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US11127813B2 - Semiconductor inductors - Google Patents

  • ️Tue Sep 21 2021

US11127813B2 - Semiconductor inductors - Google Patents

Semiconductor inductors Download PDF

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Publication number
US11127813B2
US11127813B2 US16/617,548 US201716617548A US11127813B2 US 11127813 B2 US11127813 B2 US 11127813B2 US 201716617548 A US201716617548 A US 201716617548A US 11127813 B2 US11127813 B2 US 11127813B2 Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
coil
semiconductor
stop layer
sacrificial substrate
inductor
Prior art date
2017-06-30
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
US16/617,548
Other versions
US20200185490A1 (en
Inventor
Georg Seidemann
Bernd Waidhas
Thomas Wagner
Andreas Wolter
Andreas Augustin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Intel Corp
Original Assignee
Intel Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
2017-06-30
Filing date
2017-06-30
Publication date
2021-09-21
2017-06-30 Application filed by Intel Corp filed Critical Intel Corp
2020-01-28 Assigned to Intel IP Corporation reassignment Intel IP Corporation ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: WAGNER, THOMAS, WAIDHAS, BERND, WOLTER, ANDREAS, AUGUSTIN, ANDREAS, SEIDEMANN, GEORG
2020-06-11 Publication of US20200185490A1 publication Critical patent/US20200185490A1/en
2021-05-22 Assigned to INTEL CORPORATION reassignment INTEL CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: Intel IP Corporation
2021-09-21 Application granted granted Critical
2021-09-21 Publication of US11127813B2 publication Critical patent/US11127813B2/en
Status Active legal-status Critical Current
2037-06-30 Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L23/00Details of semiconductor or other solid state devices
    • H01L23/58Structural electrical arrangements for semiconductor devices not otherwise provided for, e.g. in combination with batteries
    • H01L23/64Impedance arrangements
    • H01L23/645Inductive arrangements
    • H01L28/10
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H10SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10DINORGANIC ELECTRIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
    • H10D1/00Resistors, capacitors or inductors
    • H10D1/20Inductors
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01FMAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
    • H01F17/00Fixed inductances of the signal type
    • H01F17/04Fixed inductances of the signal type with magnetic core
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L21/00Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
    • H01L21/02Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof
    • H01L21/02104Forming layers
    • H01L21/02365Forming inorganic semiconducting materials on a substrate
    • H01L21/02436Intermediate layers between substrates and deposited layers
    • H01L21/02439Materials
    • H01L21/02441Group 14 semiconducting materials
    • H01L21/02447Silicon carbide
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L21/00Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
    • H01L21/02Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof
    • H01L21/04Manufacture or treatment of semiconductor devices or of parts thereof the devices having potential barriers, e.g. a PN junction, depletion layer or carrier concentration layer
    • H01L21/50Assembly of semiconductor devices using processes or apparatus not provided for in a single one of the groups H01L21/18 - H01L21/326 or H10D48/04 - H10D48/07 e.g. sealing of a cap to a base of a container
    • H01L21/56Encapsulations, e.g. encapsulation layers, coatings
    • H01L21/565Moulds
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L24/00Arrangements for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies; Methods or apparatus related thereto
    • H01L24/01Means for bonding being attached to, or being formed on, the surface to be connected, e.g. chip-to-package, die-attach, "first-level" interconnects; Manufacturing methods related thereto
    • H01L24/10Bump connectors ; Manufacturing methods related thereto
    • H01L24/12Structure, shape, material or disposition of the bump connectors prior to the connecting process
    • H01L24/13Structure, shape, material or disposition of the bump connectors prior to the connecting process of an individual bump connector
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L2224/00Indexing scheme for arrangements for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies and methods related thereto as covered by H01L24/00
    • H01L2224/01Means for bonding being attached to, or being formed on, the surface to be connected, e.g. chip-to-package, die-attach, "first-level" interconnects; Manufacturing methods related thereto
    • H01L2224/10Bump connectors; Manufacturing methods related thereto
    • H01L2224/15Structure, shape, material or disposition of the bump connectors after the connecting process
    • H01L2224/16Structure, shape, material or disposition of the bump connectors after the connecting process of an individual bump connector
    • H01L2224/161Disposition
    • H01L2224/16151Disposition the bump connector connecting between a semiconductor or solid-state body and an item not being a semiconductor or solid-state body, e.g. chip-to-substrate, chip-to-passive
    • H01L2224/16221Disposition the bump connector connecting between a semiconductor or solid-state body and an item not being a semiconductor or solid-state body, e.g. chip-to-substrate, chip-to-passive the body and the item being stacked
    • H01L2224/16225Disposition the bump connector connecting between a semiconductor or solid-state body and an item not being a semiconductor or solid-state body, e.g. chip-to-substrate, chip-to-passive the body and the item being stacked the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L23/00Details of semiconductor or other solid state devices
    • H01L23/48Arrangements for conducting electric current to or from the solid state body in operation, e.g. leads, terminal arrangements ; Selection of materials therefor
    • H01L23/481Internal lead connections, e.g. via connections, feedthrough structures
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
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    • H01L23/48Arrangements for conducting electric current to or from the solid state body in operation, e.g. leads, terminal arrangements ; Selection of materials therefor
    • H01L23/488Arrangements for conducting electric current to or from the solid state body in operation, e.g. leads, terminal arrangements ; Selection of materials therefor consisting of soldered or bonded constructions
    • H01L23/498Leads, i.e. metallisations or lead-frames on insulating substrates, e.g. chip carriers
    • H01L23/49811Additional leads joined to the metallisation on the insulating substrate, e.g. pins, bumps, wires, flat leads
    • H01L23/49816Spherical bumps on the substrate for external connection, e.g. ball grid arrays [BGA]
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L23/00Details of semiconductor or other solid state devices
    • H01L23/52Arrangements for conducting electric current within the device in operation from one component to another, i.e. interconnections, e.g. wires, lead frames
    • H01L23/538Arrangements for conducting electric current within the device in operation from one component to another, i.e. interconnections, e.g. wires, lead frames the interconnection structure between a plurality of semiconductor chips being formed on, or in, insulating substrates
    • H01L23/5389Arrangements for conducting electric current within the device in operation from one component to another, i.e. interconnections, e.g. wires, lead frames the interconnection structure between a plurality of semiconductor chips being formed on, or in, insulating substrates the chips being integrally enclosed by the interconnect and support structures
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L25/00Assemblies consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid state devices
    • H01L25/16Assemblies consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid state devices the devices being of types provided for in two or more different subclasses of H10B, H10D, H10F, H10H, H10K or H10N, e.g. forming hybrid circuits
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01LSEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L25/00Assemblies consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid state devices
    • H01L25/18Assemblies consisting of a plurality of semiconductor or other solid state devices the devices being of the types provided for in two or more different main groups of the same subclass of H10B, H10D, H10F, H10H, H10K or H10N

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to the inductors used on semiconductor dies.
  • Planar inductors both hollow and magnetic core, are used in conjunction with semiconductor circuits. Planar inductors may consume considerable die surface area. Given the increasing emphasis on smaller and miniaturized devices, increasing die surface area frequently is either not an option or presents an extremely unattractive option that may increase the size of the host device.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-section of an illustrative semiconductor inductor in which a coil is patterned or otherwise deposited on a stop layer that has been deposited on a sacrificial substrate, such as a silicon wafer, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 2A is a cross-section of an illustrative system that includes a semiconductor inductor communicably coupled to an active die that includes a number of conductors or conductive pads disposed on, about, or across a surface of a substrate, a dielectric layer at least partially covers the conductors and the substrate, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 2B is a cross section of an illustrative system that includes the semiconductor inductor and the active die depicted in FIG. 2A and in which a mold compound has been disposed on, across, or about the active die and about at least a portion of the perimeter of the semiconductor inductor, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 2C is a cross-section of an illustrative system that includes the semiconductor inductor and the active die depicted in FIG. 2A and in which at least a portion of the sacrificial substrate has been removed from the semiconductor inductor to provide a void proximate the semiconductor inductor while the mold compound remains unaffected, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 2D is a cross-section of an illustrative system that includes the semiconductor inductor and the active die depicted in FIG. 2A and in which mold compound has been deposited in the void space formed by the removal of the sacrificial substrate, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 2E is a cross-section of an illustrative system that includes the semiconductor inductor and the active die depicted in FIG. 2A and in which a magnetic material has been deposited in the void space formed by the removal of the sacrificial substrate, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 3A is a cross-section of an illustrative three-dimensional semiconductor inductor system that includes a first semiconductor inductor with the sacrificial substrate removed, communicably coupled to an active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 3B is a cross-section of an illustrative three-dimensional semiconductor inductor system in which a second semiconductor inductor has been communicably coupled to the first semiconductor inductor depicted in FIG. 3A , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 3C is a cross-section of an illustrative stacked, three-dimensional, semiconductor inductor system in which the second sacrificial substrate has been removed from the second semiconductor inductor, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 3D is a cross-section of an illustrative stacked, three-dimensional, semiconductor inductor system in which a third semiconductor inductor has been communicably coupled to the second semiconductor inductor depicted in FIG. 3C , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 3E is a cross-section of an illustrative stacked, three-dimensional, semiconductor inductor system in which the third sacrificial substrate has been removed from the third semiconductor inductor, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 4A is a cross-section of an illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes a first semiconductor inductor, communicably coupled to an active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 4B is a cross-section of the illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes the first semiconductor inductor, communicably coupled to an active die as depicted in FIG. 4A , and in which a stop layer has been deposited on, across, or about at least a portion of the surface of the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 4C is a cross-section of the illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes the first semiconductor inductor, communicably coupled to the active die as depicted in FIG. 4B , and in which a removable etch resist has been deposited on, about, or across at least a portion of the exposed surface the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 4D is a cross-section of the illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes the first semiconductor inductor, communicably coupled to the active die depicted in FIG. 4C and in which at least a portion of the sacrificial substrate has been removed from the first semiconductor inductor to provide a void proximate the first semiconductor inductor while the removable etch resist remains unaffected, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 4E is a cross-section of the illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes the first semiconductor inductor, communicably coupled to the active die depicted in FIG. 4D and in which at least a portion of the removable etch resist has been removed to expose at least a portion of the exposed surface of the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 4F is a cross-section of the illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes the first semiconductor inductor and a conductively coupled second semiconductor inductor coupled to an active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 5A is a cross-section of an illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes a semiconductor inductor having the sacrificial substrate removed and replaced with a magnetic material, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes the semiconductor inductor that includes a magnetic material disposed proximate the stop layer, communicably coupled to the active die in which at least a portion of the removable etch resist has been removed to expose at least a portion of the exposed surface of the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view of an illustrative system that includes a plurality of semiconductor inductors, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) semiconductor package using through mold vias (TMVs) and including a number of semiconductor inductors such as described in detail with regard to FIGS. 1-6 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • eWLB embedded wafer level ball grid array
  • TSVs through mold vias
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional elevation of another illustrative embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) semiconductor package in which both the solder balls forming the ball grid array and the semiconductor inductor are disposed on the upper surface of the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • eWLB embedded wafer level ball grid array
  • FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional elevation of another illustrative embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) semiconductor package using through mold vias (TMVs) and back-side metallization, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • eWLB embedded wafer level ball grid array
  • FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) semiconductor package in which a semiconductor inductor is conductively coupled to the upper surface of the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • WLCSP wafer level chip scale package
  • FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional elevation of an embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) semiconductor package that includes a mold compound disposed on the lower surface of the active die and a removable etch resist disposed on the upper surface of the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • eWLB embedded wafer level ball grid array
  • FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) semiconductor package in which a semiconductor inductor is fabricated using a removable etch resist and conductively coupled to the upper surface of the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • WLCSP wafer level chip scale package
  • FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) semiconductor package in which semiconductor inductors are fabricated using a removable etch resist and conductively coupled to the active die by through silicon vias (TSVs), in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • WLCSP wafer level chip scale package
  • FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative stacked die in which conductive members, such as copper pillars, couple a second semiconductor die to an active die encapsulated in a dielectric material and in which the active die is conductively coupled to a redistribution layer, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • conductive members such as copper pillars
  • FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative stacked die in which conductive members, such as copper pillars, couple a second semiconductor die to an active die coupled to a semiconductor inductor and in which the active die is conductively coupled to a redistribution layer, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • conductive members such as copper pillars
  • FIG. 16 is a high-level flow diagram of an illustrative semiconductor inductor fabrication method in which a planar coil having one or more windings is formed or otherwise patterned onto a stop layer that has been deposited on a sacrificial substrate, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 17 is a high-level flow diagram of an illustrative semiconductor inductor fabrication method in which at least a portion of the sacrificial substrate is removed to expose the stop layer, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;
  • FIG. 18 is a high-level flow diagram of an illustrative semiconductor package fabrication method in which the semiconductor inductor is conductively coupled to an active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • a coil may be patterned or otherwise formed on a stop layer that has been deposited on a sacrificial substrate material, e.g., a silicon wafer.
  • the coil may be covered with a dielectric material and channels or vias may be formed in the dielectric material, exposing the coil.
  • Conductive members such as solder balls, solder bumps, or conductive pillars may be deposited, inserted, or otherwise formed in the channels or vias to conductively couple the coil to an external circuit, such as found on a semiconductor die.
  • All or a portion of the sacrificial substrate may be removed in the region of the structure proximate the coil.
  • a magnetic material such as a magnetic paste, may be deposited proximate the coil after removal of the sacrificial substrate.
  • the planar (i.e., two-dimensional) coil may be encapsulated and coupled to a semiconductor die using the previously deposited conductive members.
  • additional coils may be stacked to provide a three dimensional coil structure using a similar construction technique: invert the coil, use the conductive members to conductively couple to the underlying coil, and remove the sacrificial substrate. Any number of coils, each having one or more turns, may be combined.
  • a gap may exist between the coil and the surface of the semiconductor die and, for stacked coils, between successive coil turns in the stack.
  • the gap between the lowermost coil in the stack and the semiconductor die surface may be partially or filled by flowing an electrically insulating adhesive or underfill material between the lowermost coil in the stack and the surface of the semiconductor die.
  • the gaps between successive coils may be filled by flowing an electrically insulating adhesive or underfill material between successive coils.
  • the systems and methods described herein provide a single- or multi-turn coil that may be conductively coupled to an active die at the wafer level, i.e., prior to die singulation.
  • the coil is formed on a stop layer deposited on a sacrificial substrate, such as a silicon carrier die.
  • Conductive structures such as solder balls or conductive columns may be coupled to the coil and the coil encapsulated using a dielectric material.
  • the coil may be coupled to an active die that is subsequently fully encapsulated, leaving only the sacrificial substrate exposed. Since the active die is encapsulated, the sacrificial substrate may be thinned or completely removed, for example using a wet-etch or plasma-etch, without exposing the active die to the etchant. Consequently, only the coil stack remains coupled to the active die after etching.
  • Such construction offers significant, non-trivial, advantages that include: the thinnest possible coil structure for attachment to the active die since the sacrificial substrate may be partially or completely removed from the coil; compatibility with wafer level chip scale packaging (WLCSP) with the coil attached by the conductive members to the active die and using a removable resist as a first encapsulant; compatibility with existing manufacturing equipment and stack-up permitting the use of multiple materials (copper, aluminum, etc.) in a variety of line widths and thicknesses for coil fabrication; reduced area requirements on the active die; and, no handling of thin coil components.
  • WLCSP wafer level chip scale packaging
  • the semiconductor inductor may include: a first sacrificial substrate having a thickness, a first surface and a transversely opposed second surface; a first stop layer deposited across at least a portion of the first surface of the first sacrificial substrate; a first coil having a first surface and a second surface deposited across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; a first dielectric layer having a thickness disposed at least partially across the first coil; and at least one first conductive structure conductively coupled to the first coil and extending through the first dielectric layer thickness and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil.
  • a method of fabricating a first semiconductor inductor may include: depositing a first stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate; forming a first coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; depositing a first dielectric layer having a thickness at least partially across the first coil; and conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil, the at least one first conductive structure extending through the thickness of the first dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil.
  • the semiconductor package may include: a semiconductor die; a semiconductor inductor conductively coupled to the semiconductor die, the semiconductor inductor including: a first sacrificial substrate having a thickness, a first surface and a second surface; a first stop layer deposited across at least a portion of the first surface of the first sacrificial substrate; a first coil having a first surface and a second surface deposited across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; a first dielectric layer having a thickness disposed at least partially across the first coil; and at least one first conductive structure conductively coupled to the first coil and extending through the thickness of the first dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil, the at least one first conductive structure conductively coupled to the semiconductor die.
  • a method of fabricating a first semiconductor package may include: the method comprising: forming a semiconductor inductor by: depositing a first stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate having a first thickness; forming a first coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; depositing a passivation layer and a first dielectric layer having a thickness at least partially across the first coil; and conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil, the at least one first conductive structure extending through the thickness of the first dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil; and conductively coupling the semiconductor inductor to a semiconductor die using the at least one conductive structure.
  • top when used in relationship to one or more elements are intended to convey a relative rather than absolute physical configuration.
  • an element described as an “uppermost element” or a “top element” in a device may instead form the “lowermost element” or “bottom element” in the device when the device is inverted.
  • an element described as the “lowermost element” or “bottom element” in the device may instead form the “uppermost element” or “top element” in the device when the device is inverted.
  • the term “logically associated” when used in reference to a number of objects, systems, or elements, is intended to convey the existence of a relationship between the objects, systems, or elements such that access to one object, system, or element exposes the remaining objects, systems, or elements having a “logical association” with or to the accessed object, system, or element.
  • An example “logical association” exists between relational databases where access to an element in a first database may provide information and/or data from one or more elements in a number of additional databases, each having an identified relationship to the accessed element.
  • accessing “A” will expose or otherwise draw information and/or data from “B,” and vice-versa.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-section of an illustrative semiconductor inductor 100 in which a coil 110 is patterned or otherwise deposited on a stop layer 120 that has been deposited on a sacrificial substrate 130 , such as a silicon wafer, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • a plurality of conductive structures 140 such as the solder balls illustrated in FIG. 1 , conductively couple to the coil 110 .
  • At least one of a passivation layer and/or a dielectric layer 150 covers at least a portion of the coil 110 and surrounds the conductive structures 140 .
  • the coil 110 may be patterned onto the stop layer 120 using any currently available or future developed deposition technique.
  • Example deposition techniques include, but are not limited to: photolithography; electroplating; electro-less deposition; and similar.
  • the coil 110 may have any dimensions, size, shape, or physical configuration. In embodiments, the coil 110 may be a two-dimensional coil having a plurality of concentric turns. In embodiments, the coil 110 may have only single turn.
  • the coil 110 may have any regular physical shape, such as circular, oval, polygonal, and similar, or an irregular shape, such as trapezoidal, ovoid, and similar.
  • the coil 110 may be fabricated from any conductive material including, but not limited to, one or more metals or metal alloys, one or more conductive polymers, or one or more conductive non-metallic materials, such as graphene.
  • Example metals may include, but are not limited to: copper, copper alloys, aluminum, and aluminum alloys.
  • the conductors forming the coil may have any width and/or thickness.
  • the coil 110 may have a width of greater than: about 5 nanometers (nm); about 7 nm; about 10 nm; about 15 nm; about 20 nm; about 30 nm; about 50 nm; about 100 nm; about 250 nm; about 500 nm; about 1 ⁇ m; about 5 ⁇ m; about 10 ⁇ m.
  • the coil 110 may be formed using a metal patterning process.
  • the coil 110 may be formed using a patterning process such as: depositing a metal layer on the stop layer 120 ; depositing a photoresist on the metal layer; applying a mask to the photoresist and exposing the photoresist to electromagnetic radiation having a defined spectral content; selectively removing portions of the photoresist; etching the metal layer to produce the coil 110 ; and, removing the remaining photoresist from the coil structure.
  • the coil may be formed using a patterning process such as: sputtering a metal (e.g., TiW/Cu) on the top layer 120 ; depositing a photoresist on the metal layer; applying a mask to the photoresist and exposing the photoresist to electromagnetic radiation having a defined spectral content; selectively removing portions of the photoresist; etching the metal layer to produce the coil 110 ; electro or electroless plating the resultant structure; strip the remaining photoresist; and, etching the TiW/Cu.
  • a metal e.g., TiW/Cu
  • the stop layer 120 may be deposited on, across, or about all or a portion of the sacrificial substrate 130 .
  • the stop layer 120 may include one or more materials, compounds, or layers capable of preventing the passage of an etchant beyond the stop layer 120 .
  • the stop layer 120 may include at least one of: silicon nitride (SiN); silicon carbide (SiC); Silicon Oxide (SiO 2 ).
  • the stop layer 120 may be deposited using any currently available or future developed deposition technique.
  • Example deposition techniques include, but are not limited to: chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, molecular beam epitaxy; electrochemical deposition; plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition; spin coating; and similar.
  • the stop layer 120 may have any thickness.
  • the stop layer 120 may have a thickness of less than: about 20 nanometers (nm); about 30 nm; about 50 nm; about 70 nm; about 90 nm; or about 130 nm.
  • the sacrificial substrate 130 provides structural support for the coil 110 and the stop layer 120 until fabrication of the coil structure is complete and the coil 110 is coupled to an active die.
  • the sacrificial substrate 130 beneficially provides structural support for the coil 110 prior to communicably coupling the coil 110 to an active die and may be removed from the coil 110 once the coil is coupled to the active die, thereby beneficially reducing both the weight and thickness of the resultant semiconductor package.
  • the sacrificial substrate may contain silicon.
  • a silicon wafer may provide the sacrificial substrate 130 and multiple coils may be formed on the wafer prior to singulation.
  • the sacrificial substrate 130 may have any thickness.
  • the sacrificial substrate 130 may have a thickness of less than: about 800 micrometers ( ⁇ m); about 700 ⁇ m; about 600 ⁇ m; about 500 ⁇ m; about 400 ⁇ m; about 300 ⁇ m; or about 200 ⁇ m.
  • the silicon wafer may have a diameter of: about 450 millimeter (mm); about 300 mm; about 200 mm; about 150 mm; about 130 mm; about 100 mm; about 76 mm; about 50 mm; or about 25 mm.
  • the conductive structures 140 may include any device or feature capable of conductively coupling the inductor 100 to an external system, such as an active die. Any number and/or combination of conductive structure 140 may be used to communicably couple the coil 110 to an external device or system, such as an active die.
  • the conductive structures 140 may include any currently available or future developed device and/or system capable of conductively coupling the inductor 100 to an external device or system.
  • the conductive structures 140 may physically affix the inductor 100 to an external device or system.
  • the conductive structures 140 may include one or more solder balls.
  • the conductive structures 140 may include one or more conductive pillars. In some implementations, the conductive structures 140 may include solder bumps.
  • the dielectric layer 150 is disposed on, across, or about the coil 110 and on, across, or about the stop layer 120 .
  • the dielectric layer 150 encapsulates the coil 110 and at least partially encapsulates the conductive structures 140 .
  • at least a portion of the conductive structures 140 may extend or project beyond the surface of the dielectric layer 150 opposite the coil 110 .
  • the dielectric layer may include one or more electrically insulating materials.
  • Example dielectric materials include, but are not limited to: nanoporous silica; hydrogensilsesquioxanes (HSQ); Teflon®-AF (polytetrafluoethylene or PTFE); silicon oxyflouride (FSG); silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ); silicon nitride; alkali halides; barium titanate (BaTiO 3 ); hafnium oxide (HfO 2 ); tantalum oxide (TaO 5 ); tungsten oxide (WO 3 ); zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ); and similar.
  • HSQ hydrogensilsesquioxanes
  • Teflon®-AF polytetrafluoethylene or PTFE
  • silicon oxyflouride FSG
  • silicon dioxide SiO 2
  • silicon nitride alkali halides
  • barium titanate (BaTiO 3 ) hafnium oxide (HfO 2 ); tantalum oxide (TaO 5 ); tungs
  • FIG. 2A is a cross-section of an illustrative system 200 A that includes a semiconductor inductor 100 communicably coupled to an active die 210 that includes a number of conductors or conductive pads 220 disposed on, about, or across a surface of a substrate 230 , a dielectric layer 240 at least partially covers the conductors 220 and the substrate 230 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. It should be noted that the embodiments described in FIGS. 2A through 2E may be performed at the wafer level, i.e., prior to die singulation.
  • the semiconductor inductor 100 may be inverted (such that the conductive structures 140 extend from the “bottom” of the semiconductor inductor 100 .
  • the conductive structures 140 may contact and be physically and conductively coupled to the same or a different number of conductors 220 disposed on the surface of the active die 210 .
  • the dielectric layer 240 may be disposed at least partially about the conductive structures 140 and conductors 220 . In embodiments, the dielectric layer 240 may electrically isolate the semiconductor inductor 100 from the active die 210 .
  • the active die 210 may include any type or number of electrical components, semiconductor devices, and/or logic elements.
  • the active die 210 may include one or more processors, microprocessor, controllers, microcontrollers, programmable gate arrays (PGAs), systems on a chip (SoCs), reduced instruction set computers (RISCs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), central processing units (CPUs), graphical processing units (GPUs), and similar.
  • the active die 210 may include one or more mobile device processors, communications interfaces, such as: IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi); Bluetooth®, Near Field Communication (NFC), or combinations thereof.
  • FIG. 2B is a cross section of an illustrative system 200 B that includes the semiconductor inductor 100 and the active die 210 depicted in FIG. 2A and in which a mold compound 250 has been disposed on, across, or about the active die 210 and about at least a portion of the perimeter of the semiconductor inductor 100 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the mold compound 250 may include any electrically non-conductive material, compound, or substance capable of protecting the active die 210 .
  • Example mold compounds include, but are not limited to: elastomers, such as silicone, polyurethane, chloroprene, butyl, polybutadiene, neoprene, natural rubber or isoprene, and other synthetic rubber or compounds; composite compounds that include resins made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties; thermoplastics that include polymers that turn to liquid when heated and turn solid when cooled; thermosets that include polymer materials that have been irreversibly cured; and silicone molding compounds.
  • the upper surface of the mold compound 250 opposite the active die may be lower, higher, or the same elevation as the upper surface of the sacrificial substrate 130 opposite the stop layer 120 .
  • FIG. 2C is a cross-section of an illustrative system 200 C that includes the semiconductor inductor 100 and the active die 210 depicted in FIG. 2A and in which at least a portion of the sacrificial substrate 130 has been removed from the semiconductor inductor 100 to provide a void 260 proximate the semiconductor inductor 100 while the mold compound 250 remains unaffected, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. All or a portion of the thickness of the sacrificial substrate 130 may be removed using one or more material removal systems, processes, or devices to form the void 260 proximate the semiconductor inductor 100 .
  • all or a portion of the thickness of the sacrificial substrate 130 may be removed using wet chemistry on a spin etcher.
  • the etching process may halt upon reaching the stop layer 120 .
  • the mold compound 250 remains unaffected by the etching process.
  • FIG. 2D is a cross-section of an illustrative system 200 D that includes the semiconductor inductor 100 and the active die 210 depicted in FIG. 2A and in which mold compound 270 has been deposited in the void space 260 formed by the removal of the sacrificial substrate 130 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the mold compound 270 may be the same as or different from the mold compound 250 previously deposited on, about, or across the active die 210 .
  • the upper surface 272 of mold compound 270 may be above, below, or at the same elevation as the upper surface 252 of mold compound 250 .
  • the upper surface 272 of mold compound and the upper surface 252 of mold compound 250 may be mechanically planarized, chemically planarized, or any combination thereof.
  • the upper surface 272 of mold compound 270 and the upper surface 252 of mold compound 250 may be finished using one or more chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) processes.
  • CMP chemical-mechanical planarization
  • FIG. 2E is a cross-section of an illustrative system 200 E that includes the semiconductor inductor 100 and the active die 210 depicted in FIG. 2A and in which a magnetic material 280 has been deposited in the void space 260 formed by the removal of the sacrificial substrate 130 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the upper surface 282 of the magnetic material 280 may be above, below, or at the same elevation as the upper surface 252 of mold compound 250 .
  • the upper surface 282 of the magnetic material 280 and the upper surface 252 of mold compound 250 may be mechanically planarized, chemically planarized, or any combination thereof.
  • the upper surface 282 of the magnetic material 280 and the upper surface 252 of mold compound 250 may be finished using one or more chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) processes.
  • CMP chemical-mechanical planarization
  • the magnetic material 280 improves the inductive performance of the semiconductor inductor 100 .
  • the magnetic material 280 may include one or more non-electrically conductive materials demonstrating magnetic properties.
  • Example magnetic materials may include one or more soft magnetic composite materials, such as one or more ferritic materials encapsulated in a non-electrically conductive material or polymer).
  • the backside of the setup can be finally cover by a protection layer, e.g. backside protection tape (BSP).
  • BSP backside protection tape
  • FIG. 3A is a cross-section of an illustrative three-dimensional semiconductor inductor system 300 A that includes a first semiconductor inductor 110 A with the sacrificial substrate 130 A removed, communicably coupled to an active die 210 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • a first semiconductor inductor 110 A is physically and communicably coupled to the active die 210 by a plurality of conductive structures 140 A.
  • the active die 210 has been covered with a mold compound 250 and the sacrificial substrate 130 A has been removed from the semiconductor inductor 110 A, leaving a void space 260 above the semiconductor inductor 110 A.
  • FIG. 3B is a cross-section of an illustrative three-dimensional semiconductor inductor system 300 B in which a second semiconductor inductor 100 B has been communicably coupled to the first semiconductor inductor 100 A depicted in FIG. 3A , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • removal of at least a portion of the first stop layer 120 A exposes the first semiconductor inductor coil 110 A.
  • portions of the first stop layer 120 A may be selectively removed using one or more laser material removal processes or using one or more lithographic and reactive ion etching processes.
  • the first stop layer 120 A may be removed in its entirety.
  • the first stop layer 120 A may be completely removed using one or more plasma etch processes.
  • the second semiconductor inductor 100 B may be physically and communicably coupled to the first semiconductor inductor 100 A using second conductive structures 140 B.
  • a first etch seal 310 A may be added about all or a portion of the periphery of the second semiconductor inductor 100 B.
  • a first gap 320 A may exist between the first semiconductor inductor 100 A and the second semiconductor inductor 100 B.
  • one or more non-electrically conductive underfill materials may be used to at least partially fill the first gap 320 A between the first semiconductor inductor 100 A and the second semiconductor inductor 100 B.
  • FIG. 3C is a cross-section of an illustrative stacked, three-dimensional, semiconductor inductor system 300 C in which the second sacrificial substrate 130 B has been removed from the second semiconductor inductor 100 B, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • All or a portion of the thickness of the second sacrificial substrate 130 B may be removed using one or more material removal systems, processes, or devices.
  • all or a portion of the thickness of the second sacrificial substrate 130 B may be removed using wet chemistry on a spin etcher.
  • the etching process may halt upon reaching the second stop layer 120 B.
  • the mold compound 250 remains unaffected by the wet chemistry etching process.
  • the presence of the first etch stop 310 A prevents the wet etch process from entering the first gap 320 A and affecting the underlying first semiconductor inductor 100 A.
  • FIG. 3D is a cross-section of an illustrative stacked, three-dimensional, semiconductor inductor system 300 D in which a third semiconductor inductor 100 C has been communicably coupled to the second semiconductor inductor 100 B depicted in FIG. 3C , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • removal of at least a portion of the second stop layer 120 B exposes at least a portion of the second coil 110 B.
  • portions of the second stop layer 120 B may be selectively removed using one or more laser material removal processes or using one or more lithographic and reactive ion etching processes.
  • the second stop layer 120 B may be completely removed.
  • the second stop layer 120 B may be completely removed using one or more plasma etch processes.
  • the third semiconductor inductor 100 C may be physically and communicably coupled to the second semiconductor inductor 100 B using the third conductive structures 140 C.
  • a second etch seal 310 B may be added about all or a portion of the periphery of the third semiconductor inductor 100 C.
  • a second gap 320 B may exist between the second semiconductor inductor 100 B and the third semiconductor inductor 100 C.
  • one or more non-electrically conductive underfill materials may be used to at least partially fill the second gap 320 B between the second semiconductor inductor 100 B and the third semiconductor inductor 100 C.
  • FIG. 3E is a cross-section of an illustrative stacked, three-dimensional, semiconductor inductor system 300 E in which the third sacrificial substrate 130 C has been removed from the third semiconductor inductor 100 C, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • All or a portion of the thickness of the third sacrificial substrate 130 C may be removed using one or more material removal systems, processes, or devices.
  • all or a portion of the thickness of the third sacrificial substrate 130 C may be removed using wet chemistry on a spin etcher.
  • the etching process may halt upon reaching the third stop layer 120 C.
  • the mold compound 250 remains unaffected by the wet chemistry etching process.
  • the presence of the second etch stop 310 B prevents the wet etch process from entering the second gap 320 B and affecting the underlying second semiconductor inductor 100 B.
  • FIG. 4A is a cross-section of an illustrative semiconductor inductor system 400 A that includes a first semiconductor inductor 100 A, communicably coupled to an active die 210 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • a first semiconductor inductor 100 A is physically and communicably coupled to the active die 210 by a plurality of conductive structures 140 A.
  • an electrically non-conductive material or filler 410 may be disposed at least partially beneath the first semiconductor inductor 100 A.
  • the electrically non-conductive material or filler 410 may physically bond or adhere the first semiconductor inductor 100 A to the active die 210 .
  • a removable etch resist may be used to encapsulate and protect the active die 210 .
  • the use of a removable etch resist compound would permit re-exposing the active die 210 after the conductive coupling of one or more semiconductor inductors 100 to the active die 210 .
  • Such a construction would beneficially facilitate the attachment of solder balls or similar conductive structures to the exposed surface 242 of the active die 210 to provide a wafer level package.
  • FIG. 4B is a cross-section of the illustrative semiconductor inductor system 400 B that includes the first semiconductor inductor 100 A, communicably coupled to an active die 210 as depicted in FIG. 4A , and in which a stop layer 420 has been deposited on, across, or about at least a portion of the surface of the active die 210 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the stop layer 420 may include a layer that includes carbon or one or more carbon containing compounds.
  • the stop layer 420 may extend across all or a portion of the surface 242 of the active die 210 , but may not extend beneath the first semiconductor inductor 100 A. In other embodiments, the stop layer 420 may extend across all or a portion of the surface 242 of the active die 210 and at least partially beneath the first semiconductor inductor 100 A.
  • FIG. 4C is a cross-section of the illustrative semiconductor inductor system 400 C that includes the first semiconductor inductor 100 A, communicably coupled to the active die 210 as depicted in FIG. 4B , and in which a removable etch resist 430 has been deposited on, about, or across at least a portion of the exposed surface 242 the active die 210 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the removable etch resist 430 may include any compound that provides sufficient resistance to the wet chemistry used to remove the sacrificial substrate 130 from the first semiconductor inductor 100 A, but remains removable to permit additional processing of the active die after the assembly of the first semiconductor inductor 100 A to the active die 210 .
  • the removable etch resist 430 may include one or more photosensitive removable etch resist compounds.
  • FIG. 4D is a cross-section of the illustrative semiconductor inductor system 400 D that includes the first semiconductor inductor 100 A, communicably coupled to the active die 210 depicted in FIG. 4C and in which at least a portion of the sacrificial substrate 130 has been removed from the first semiconductor inductor 100 A to provide a void 260 proximate the first semiconductor inductor 100 A while the removable etch resist 430 remains unaffected, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. All or a portion of the thickness of the sacrificial substrate 130 may be removed using one or more material removal systems, processes, or devices to form the void 260 proximate the first semiconductor inductor 100 A.
  • all or a portion of the thickness of the sacrificial substrate 130 may be removed using wet chemistry on a spin etcher.
  • the etching process may halt upon reaching the stop layer 120 .
  • the removable etch resist 430 remains unaffected by the wet chemistry etching process.
  • FIG. 4E is a cross-section of the illustrative semiconductor inductor system 400 E that includes the first semiconductor inductor 100 A, communicably coupled to the active die 210 depicted in FIG. 4D and in which at least a portion of the removable etch resist 430 has been removed to expose at least a portion of the exposed surface 242 of the active die 210 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the removable etch resist 430 may be partially or completely removed using any currently available or future developed removal process that does not affect the performance of the stop layer 120 on the first semiconductor inductor 100 A.
  • the removable etch resist 430 may be removed via one or more plasma etching processes or wet chemistry etching processes.
  • exposing the surface 242 of the active die 210 beneficially facilitates the attachment of solder balls or similar conductive structures to the exposed surface 242 of the active die 210 to provide a wafer level package.
  • FIG. 4F is a cross-section of the illustrative semiconductor inductor system 400 F that includes the first semiconductor inductor 100 A and a conductively coupled second semiconductor inductor 100 B coupled to an active die 210 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • any number of additional semiconductor inductors 100 B- 100 n may be conductively coupled to the active die to provide a stacked, three-dimensional semiconductor inductor.
  • Any number of semiconductor inductors 100 A- 100 n may stacked by: etching the stop layer 120 of the uppermost semiconductor inductor, conductively coupling the next semiconductor inductor to the upper most semiconductor inductor using one or more conductive structures 140 , and removing the sacrificial substrate 130 from the newly added semiconductor inductor.
  • FIG. 5A is a cross-section of an illustrative semiconductor inductor system 500 A that includes a semiconductor inductor 100 having the sacrificial substrate 130 removed and replaced with a magnetic material 510 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the semiconductor inductor 100 conductively couples to an active die 210 having a removable etch resist 430 disposed on, about, or across at least a portion of the exposed surface 242 of the active die 210 .
  • the upper surface 512 of the magnetic material 510 may be above, below, or at the same elevation as the upper surface 432 of the removable etch resist 430 .
  • the magnetic material 510 improves the inductive performance of the semiconductor inductor 100 .
  • the magnetic material 510 may include one or more non-electrically conductive materials demonstrating magnetic properties.
  • Example magnetic materials may include one or more soft magnetic composite materials, such as one or more ferritic materials encapsulated in a non-electrically conductive material or polymer).
  • FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative semiconductor inductor system 500 B that includes the semiconductor inductor 100 that includes a magnetic material 510 disposed proximate the stop layer 120 , communicably coupled to the active die 210 in which at least a portion of the removable etch resist 430 has been removed to expose at least a portion of the exposed surface 242 of the active die 210 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the removable etch resist 430 may be partially or completely removed using any currently available or future developed removal process that does not affect the performance of the stop layer 120 on the semiconductor inductor 100 .
  • the removable etch resist 430 may be removed via one or more plasma etching processes or wet chemistry etching processes.
  • exposing the surface 242 of the active die 210 beneficially facilitates the attachment of solder balls or similar conductive structures to the exposed surface 242 of the active die 210 to provide a wafer level package.
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view of an illustrative system 600 that includes a plurality of semiconductor inductors 100 A- 100 H, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • Each of the semiconductor inductors 100 A- 100 H includes a plurality of windings disposed across the surface of the active die 210 .
  • FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) semiconductor package 700 using through mold vias (TMVs) 710 A- 710 D (collectively, “TMVs 710 ”) and including a number of semiconductor inductors such as described in detail with regard to FIGS. 1-6 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the TMVs 710 conductively couple the pads 220 on the active die 230 to an exposed ball grid array that includes a number of solder balls 720 A- 720 D on the package bottom.
  • a redistribution layer may provide all or a portion of the pads 220 .
  • the semiconductor package 700 includes a single coil semiconductor inductor 100 and a stacked coil semiconductor inductor 300 that includes a first semiconductor inductor 100 A and a second semiconductor inductor 100 B.
  • the single coil semiconductor inductor 100 and the stacked coil semiconductor inductor 300 conductively couple to the upper surface of the active die 230 .
  • the active die 230 , the semiconductor inductor 100 and the stacked semiconductor inductor 300 are encapsulated in mold compound 250 to provide the eWLB semiconductor package 700 .
  • FIG. 7 any number of semiconductor inductors 100 and/or stacked semiconductor inductors 300 may be similarly coupled to the active die 230 .
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional elevation of another illustrative embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) semiconductor package 800 in which both the solder balls 820 A- 820 E forming the ball grid array and the semiconductor inductor 100 are disposed on the upper surface of the active die 230 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the active die 230 and the semiconductor inductor 100 may be encapsulated in mold compound 250 .
  • the pads 220 on the upper surface of the active die 230 may be opened, for example using one or more laser ablation or other similar selective material removal processes, and the solder balls 820 inserted to conductively couple the eWLB semiconductor package 800 to an external device.
  • any number of semiconductor inductors 100 may be similarly coupled to the active die 230 .
  • FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional elevation of another illustrative embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) semiconductor package 900 using through mold vias (TMVs) 910 A- 910 D (collectively, “TMVs 910 ”) and back-side metallization, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the eWLB semiconductor package 900 includes three semiconductor inductors 100 A, 100 B, and 100 C.
  • TMVs 910 conductively couple semiconductor inductors 100 A and 100 C to the active die 230 .
  • Semiconductor inductors 100 A and 100 C are encapsulated by the mold compound 250 forming the eWLB semiconductor package 900 .
  • Semiconductor inductor 100 B includes a magnetic material 270 cap disposed proximate the stop layer 120 . Although two semiconductor inductors 100 A, 100 C are depicted coupled to the front side of the active die 230 using TMVs in FIG. 9 , any number of semiconductor inductors 100 may be similarly coupled to the active die 230 using TMVs. Although a single semiconductor inductor 100 B is depicted coupled to the lower surface of the active die 230 , any number of semiconductor inductors may be similarly coupled to the lower surface of the active die 230 .
  • FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) semiconductor package 1000 in which a semiconductor inductor 100 is conductively coupled to the upper surface of the active die 230 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • a mold compound 250 may be used to cover the upper surface of the active die 210 and may encapsulate the semiconductor inductor 100 .
  • the pads 220 on the upper surface of the active die 230 may be opened, for example using one or more laser ablation or other similar selective material removal processes, and the solder balls 1020 inserted to conductively couple the eWLB semiconductor package 1000 to an external device.
  • a solder-resist 1040 may be disposed about some or all of the pads 220 .
  • a single semiconductor inductor 100 is depicted coupled to the upper surface of the active die 230 , any number of semiconductor inductors may be similarly coupled to the upper surface of the active die 210 .
  • the semiconductor inductor 100 may be conductively coupled to the upper surface of the active die using any conductive coupling method including, but not limited to, solder balls, solder bumps, conductive pillars, and/or solder paste.
  • FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional elevation of an embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) semiconductor package 1100 that includes a mold compound 250 disposed on the lower surface of the active die 230 and a removable etch resist 430 disposed on the upper surface of the active die 230 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • a solder-resist 1140 may be disposed about some or all of the pads 220 .
  • the removable etch resist layer 430 may be removed exposing the pads 220 on the upper surface of the active die 230 .
  • Solder balls 220 may be attached to some or all of the exposed pads 220 .
  • the resultant eWLB semiconductor package 1100 may include exposed solder balls and semiconductor inductors 100 and 300 conductively coupled to the upper surface of the active die 230 . Although only two semiconductor inductors are depicted coupled to the upper surface of the active die 230 , any number of semiconductor inductors may be similarly coupled to the upper surface of the active die 230 .
  • FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) semiconductor package 1200 in which a semiconductor inductor 100 is fabricated using a removable etch resist 430 and conductively coupled to the upper surface of the active die 210 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • a solder-resist 1140 may be disposed about some or all of the pads 220 .
  • a removable etch resist 430 may be deposited about the semiconductor inductor 100 and may cover some or all of the pads 220 on the upper surface of the active die 210 . After forming the semiconductor inductor 100 , the removable etch resist 430 may be removed, exposing the pads 220 .
  • Solder balls 1220 A- 1220 F may then be conductively coupled to some or all of the exposed pads 220 .
  • the resultant WLCSP semiconductor package may include exposed solder balls 1220 and an exposed semiconductor inductor 100 . Although a single semiconductor inductor 100 is depicted coupled to the upper surface of the active die 210 , any number of semiconductor inductors may be similarly coupled to the upper surface of the active die 210 .
  • FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) semiconductor package 1300 in which semiconductor inductors 100 are fabricated using a removable etch resist 430 and conductively coupled to the active die 210 by through silicon vias (TSVs) 1310 A- 1310 D (collectively, “TSVs”), in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • TSVs through silicon vias
  • a solder-resist 1140 may be disposed about some or all of the pads 220 .
  • a removable etch resist 430 may be deposited about the semiconductor inductors 100 on the surface of the silicon substrate 230 of the active die 210 .
  • solder balls 1320 A- 1320 F may then be conductively coupled to some or all of the exposed pads 220 on the active surface 210 .
  • the resultant WLCSP semiconductor package may include exposed solder balls 1220 on the active die 210 and exposed semiconductor inductors 100 A and 100 B on the silicon substrate 230 , opposite the active die 210 . Although two semiconductor inductors 100 A and 100 B are depicted coupled to the surface of the silicon substrate 230 , any number of semiconductor inductors may be similarly coupled to the surface of the silicon substrate 230 .
  • FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative stacked die in which conductive members 1450 , such as copper pillars, couple a second semiconductor die 1410 to an active die 210 encapsulated in a dielectric material 1440 and in which the active die 210 is conductively coupled to a redistribution layer, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the semiconductor inductor 100 may be conductively coupled to the surface of the silicon substrate 230 that this opposite the active die 210 using a number of through silicon vias (TSVs) 1460 .
  • TSVs through silicon vias
  • an underfill may be disposed at least partially between the semiconductor inductor 100 and the surface of the silicon substrate 230 .
  • the dielectric material 1440 may also encapsulate a number of conductive layers 1480 .
  • a plurality of solder balls 1420 may be conductively coupled to the redistribution layer.
  • FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative stacked die in which conductive members 1550 , such as copper pillars, couple a second semiconductor die 1510 to an active die 210 coupled to a semiconductor inductor 100 and in which the active die 210 is conductively coupled to a redistribution layer, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the semiconductor inductor 100 may be conductively coupled to the second semiconductor die 1510 using a number of through silicon vias (TSVs) 1560 .
  • TSVs through silicon vias
  • an underfill may be disposed at least partially between the semiconductor inductor 100 and the surface of the silicon substrate 230 .
  • the dielectric material 1540 may also encapsulate a number of conductive layers 1580 .
  • a plurality of solder balls 1520 may be conductively coupled to the active layer 210 .
  • FIG. 16 is a high-level flow diagram of an illustrative semiconductor inductor fabrication method 1600 in which a planar coil 110 having one or more windings is formed or otherwise patterned onto a stop layer 120 that has been deposited on a sacrificial substrate 130 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the presence of the sacrificial substrate 130 beneficially and advantageously provides structural support for the coil 110 .
  • the sacrificial substrate 130 may include a silicon substrate which permits the fabrication of a plurality of semiconductor inductors 100 on a silicon wafer.
  • the semiconductor inductors 100 are singulated for coupling to active dies 210 .
  • the active dies 210 may be formed on a silicon wafer and the semiconductor inductors 100 may be coupled to the active dies prior to singulation of the active dies. After coupling to the active die 210 , the sacrificial substrate may be removed from the semiconductor inductor 100 and the resultant package encapsulated in mold compound or forwarded for additional processing.
  • the method 1600 commences at 1602 .
  • Example deposition processes include, but are not limited to: chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, molecular beam epitaxy; electrochemical deposition; plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition; spin coating; and similar.
  • the stop layer 120 may have any thickness.
  • the stop layer 120 may have a thickness of less than: about 20 nanometers (nm); about 30 nm; about 50 nm; about 70 nm; about 90 nm; or about 130 nm.
  • the sacrificial substrate 130 provides structural support for the coil 110 and the stop layer 120 until fabrication of the coil structure is complete and the coil 110 is coupled to an active die.
  • the sacrificial substrate 130 beneficially provides structural support for the coil 110 prior to communicably coupling the coil 110 to an active die and may be removed from the coil 110 once the coil is coupled to the active die, thereby beneficially reducing both the weight and thickness of the resultant semiconductor package.
  • the sacrificial substrate may contain silicon.
  • a silicon wafer may provide the sacrificial substrate 130 and multiple coils may be formed on the wafer prior to singulation.
  • the sacrificial substrate 130 may have any thickness.
  • the sacrificial substrate 130 may have a thickness of less than: about 800 micrometers ( ⁇ m); about 700 ⁇ m; about 600 ⁇ m; about 500 ⁇ m; about 400 ⁇ m; about 300 ⁇ m; or about 200 ⁇ m.
  • the silicon wafer may have a diameter of: about 450 millimeter (mm); about 300 mm; about 200 mm; about 150 mm; about 130 mm; about 100 mm; about 76 mm; about 50 mm; or about 25 mm.
  • a coil 110 is formed or otherwise patterned on, across, or about at least a portion of the stop layer 120 .
  • the coil 110 may have any size, shape, and/or geometry.
  • the coil 110 may have one or more turns or windings.
  • the coil 110 may be patterned onto the stop layer 120 using any currently available or future developed deposition technique.
  • the coil 110 may be fabricated from any conductive material including, but not limited to, one or more metals or metal alloys, one or more conductive polymers, or one or more conductive non-metallic materials, such as graphene.
  • Example metals may include, but are not limited to: copper, copper alloys, aluminum, and aluminum alloys.
  • the conductors forming the coil may have any width and/or thickness.
  • the coil 110 may have a width of greater than: about 5 nanometers (nm); about 7 nm; about 10 nm; about 15 nm; about 20 nm; about 30 nm; or about 50 nm.
  • one or more conductive structures 140 may be conductively coupled to the coil 110 .
  • the one or more conductive structures 140 may include any device or feature capable of conductively coupling the inductor 100 to an external system, such as an active die.
  • the conductive structures 140 may physically affix the inductor 100 to an external device or system.
  • the conductive structures 140 may include one or more solder balls.
  • the conductive structures 140 may include one or more conductive pillars.
  • the conductive structures 140 may include solder bumps.
  • a dielectric layer 150 is deposited across all or a portion of the coil 110 and across all or a portion of the stop layer 120 , at least partially encapsulating the coil 110 .
  • the dielectric layer 150 is disposed on, across, or about the coil 110 and on, across, or about the stop layer 120 .
  • the dielectric layer 150 encapsulates the coil 110 and at least partially encapsulates the conductive structures 140 .
  • at least a portion of the conductive structures 140 may extend or project beyond the surface of the dielectric layer 150 opposite the coil 110 .
  • the dielectric layer may include one or more electrically insulating materials.
  • Example dielectric materials include, but are not limited to: nanoporous silica; hydrogensilsesquioxanes (HSQ); Teflon®-AF (polytetrafluoethylene or PTFE); silicon oxyflouride (FSG); silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ); silicon nitride; alkali halides; barium titanate (BaTiO 3 ); hafnium oxide (HfO 2 ); tantalum oxide (TaO 5 ); tungsten oxide (WO 3 ); zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ); and similar.
  • the method 1600 concludes at 1612 .
  • FIG. 17 is a high-level flow diagram of an illustrative semiconductor inductor fabrication method 1700 in which at least a portion of the sacrificial substrate 130 is removed to expose the stop layer 120 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the method 1700 may be used in conjunction with the method 1600 described in detail above.
  • the removal of the sacrificial substrate 130 may occur after physical attachment of the semiconductor inductor 100 to an active die 210 , based at least in part, on the structural strength and rigidity the sacrificial substrate 130 provides during the semiconductor inductor 100 attachment process.
  • the sacrificial substrate 130 may be removed after attaching the semiconductor inductor 100 to an active die and after at least partially embedding the semiconductor inductor 100 in a mold compound 250 or removable etch resist 430 .
  • the method 1700 commences at 1702 .
  • the sacrificial substrate 130 is removed from the semiconductor inductor 100 .
  • the removal of the sacrificial substrate 130 creates a void 260 proximate the semiconductor inductor 100 while the mold compound 250 or removable etch resist 430 remains unaffected.
  • all or a portion of the thickness of the sacrificial substrate 130 may be removed using wet chemistry on a spin etcher.
  • the etching process may halt upon reaching the stop layer 120 .
  • a dielectric material 270 and/or a magnetic material 280 is deposited in the void 260 formed above the semiconductor inductor 100 by the removal of the sacrificial substrate 130 .
  • the dielectric material 270 may include mold compound similar to that previously deposited about at least a portion of the perimeter of the semiconductor inductor 100 .
  • the magnetic material 280 may include one or more non-electrically conductive materials demonstrating magnetic properties.
  • Example magnetic materials may include one or more soft magnetic composite materials, such as one or more ferritic materials encapsulated in a non-electrically conductive material or polymer).
  • the top surface of the dielectric material 270 and/or the magnetic material 180 may be finished flush with the surrounding mold compound 250 using one or more surface finishing techniques, such as chemical mechanical planarization (CMP).
  • CMP chemical mechanical planarization
  • FIG. 18 is a high-level flow diagram of an illustrative semiconductor package fabrication method 1800 in which the semiconductor inductor 100 is conductively coupled to an active die 210 , in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.
  • the method 1800 commences at 1802 .
  • the semiconductor inductor 100 is conductively coupled to the active die 210 .
  • the semiconductor inductor 100 may be coupled directly to the surface of the active die 210 .
  • the semiconductor inductor 100 may be physically coupled to a substrate material 230 on which the active die 210 is formed and may be conductively coupled to the active die 210 using one or more through-silicon vias (TSVs).
  • TSVs through-silicon vias
  • the semiconductor inductor 100 may be physically coupled to an active die 210 using one or more through mold vias (TMVs).
  • TSVs through-silicon vias
  • TSVs through mold vias
  • FIGS. 16 through 18 illustrate various operations according to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that not all of the operations depicted in FIGS. 16 through 18 are necessary for other embodiments. Indeed, it is fully contemplated herein that in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the operations depicted in FIGS. 16 through 18 , and/or other operations described herein, may be combined in a manner not specifically shown in any of the drawings, but still fully consistent with the present disclosure. Thus, claims directed to features and/or operations that are not exactly shown in one drawing are deemed within the scope and content of the present disclosure.
  • a list of items joined by the term “and/or” can mean any combination of the listed items.
  • the phrase “A, B and/or C” can mean A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; or A, B and C.
  • a list of items joined by the term “at least one of” can mean any combination of the listed terms.
  • the phrases “at least one of A, B or C” can mean A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; or A, B and C.
  • system or “module” may refer to, for example, software, firmware and/or circuitry configured to perform any of the aforementioned operations.
  • Software may be embodied as a software package, code, instructions, instruction sets and/or data recorded on non-transitory computer readable storage mediums.
  • Firmware may be embodied as code, instructions or instruction sets and/or data that are hard-coded (e.g., nonvolatile) in memory devices.
  • Circuitry may comprise, for example, singly or in any combination, hardwired circuitry, programmable circuitry such as computer processors comprising one or more individual instruction processing cores, state machine circuitry, and/or firmware that stores instructions executed by programmable circuitry or future computing paradigms including, for example, massive parallelism, analog or quantum computing, hardware embodiments of accelerators such as neural net processors and non-silicon implementations of the above.
  • the circuitry may, collectively or individually, be embodied as circuitry that forms part of a larger system, for example, an integrated circuit (IC), system on-chip (SoC), desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, servers, smartphones, etc.
  • IC integrated circuit
  • SoC system on-chip
  • any of the operations described herein may be implemented in a system that includes one or more mediums (e.g., non-transitory storage mediums) having stored therein, individually or in combination, instructions that when executed by one or more processors perform the methods.
  • the processor may include, for example, a server CPU, a mobile device CPU, and/or other programmable circuitry. Also, it is intended that operations described herein may be distributed across a plurality of physical devices, such as processing structures at more than one different physical location.
  • the storage medium may include any type of tangible medium, for example, any type of disk including hard disks, floppy disks, optical disks, compact disk read-only memories (CD-ROMs), rewritable compact disks (CD-RWs), and magneto-optical disks, semiconductor devices such as read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs) such as dynamic and static RAMs, erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), flash memories, Solid State Disks (SSDs), embedded multimedia cards (eMMCs), secure digital input/output (SDIO) cards, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions.
  • ROMs read-only memories
  • RAMs random access memories
  • EPROMs erasable programmable read-only memories
  • EEPROMs electrically erasable programmable read-only memories
  • flash memories Solid State Disks (SSDs), embedded multimedia cards (eMMC
  • the present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for fabricating a semiconductor inductor that includes a coil deposited on a stop layer that is deposited on a sacrificial substrate.
  • the semiconductor inductor may be fabricated on a silicon wafer and singulated.
  • the sacrificial substrate beneficially provides structural support for the singulated semiconductor inductor.
  • the singulated semiconductor inductor advantageously requires minimal active die surface area.
  • the removal of the sacrificial substrate after coupling to the active die beneficially reduces the overall thickness (or height) of the semiconductor package, providing a decided advantage in low profile, portable, electronic devices.
  • the following examples pertain to further embodiments.
  • the following examples of the present disclosure may comprise subject material such as at least one device, a method, at least one machine-readable medium for storing instructions that when executed cause a machine to perform acts based on the method, means for performing acts based on the method and/or a system for fabricating a low-profile semiconductor inductor on a sacrificial substrate that can be coupled to an active die prior to singulation of the silicon wafer.
  • the semiconductor inductor may include: a first sacrificial substrate having a thickness, a first surface and a transversely opposed second surface; a first stop layer deposited across at least a portion of the first surface of the first sacrificial substrate; a first coil having a first surface and a second surface deposited across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; a first dielectric layer having a thickness disposed at least partially across the first coil; and at least one first conductive structure conductively coupled to the first coil and extending through the first dielectric layer thickness and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil.
  • Example 2 may include elements of example 1 where the stop layer may include silicon carbide.
  • Example 3 may include elements of example 1 where the at least one conductive structure may include at least one of: a solder ball, a solder bump, or a conductive solder paste.
  • Example 4 may include elements of example 1 where the at least one conductive structure may include a conductive pillar.
  • Example 5 may include elements of example 1 where the first coil may include a planar coil having a plurality of turns disposed on the first stop layer.
  • Example 6 may include elements of example 1, and the semiconductor inductor may additionally include: a second coil disposed proximate and conductively coupled to the first coil by one or more second conductive structures extending through the first stop layer after removal of at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate; where the second coil has a first surface disposed proximate a second dielectric layer and a second surface deposited across at least a portion of a second stop layer; and where the second conductive structures extend through the second dielectric layer.
  • Example 7 may include elements of example 6 where the second coil is spaced a distance from the first coil, forming an interstitial space between the first oil and the second coil.
  • Example 8 may include elements of example 7, and the semiconductor inductor may additionally include an underfill at least partially filling the interstitial space between the first coil and the second coil.
  • Example 9 may include elements of example 1, and the semiconductor inductor may additionally include a magnetic core material disposed proximate at least a portion of the first stop layer after removal of at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate.
  • Example 10 may include elements of any of examples 1 through 9 where the first sacrificial substrate comprises a silicon wafer.
  • a method of fabricating a first semiconductor inductor may include: depositing a first stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate; forming a first coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; depositing a first dielectric layer having a thickness at least partially across the first coil; and conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil, the at least one first conductive structure extending through the thickness of the first dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil.
  • Example 12 may include elements of example 11, and the method may further include: removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate to expose at least a portion of the first stop layer.
  • Example 13 may include elements of example 11 where removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate to expose at least a portion of the first stop layer may include: removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate via spin etching to expose the portion of the first stop layer.
  • Example 14 may include elements of example 11, and the method may additionally include: depositing a magnetic core material across at least a portion of the exposed portion of the first stop layer.
  • Example 15 may include elements of example 11, and the method may additionally include: forming a second semiconductor inductor by: depositing a second stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a second sacrificial substrate; forming a second coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface across at least a portion of the second stop layer opposite the second sacrificial substrate; depositing a second dielectric layer having a thickness at least partially across the second coil; and conductively coupling at least one second conductive structure to the second planar coil, the at least one second conductive structure extending through the thickness of the second dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the second dielectric layer opposite the second coil; and conductively coupling the at least one second conductive structure to the first coil, the at least one second conductive structure extending through the first stop layer thickness.
  • Example 16 may include elements of example 15, and the method may additionally include: an underfill at least partially filling an interstitial space between the first coil and the second coil.
  • Example 17 may include elements of example 11 where depositing a first stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate may include: depositing a first stop layer that includes silicon carbide across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate.
  • Example 18 may include elements of example 11 where conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil may include: conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure that includes a solder ball to the first coil.
  • Example 19 may include elements of example 11 where conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil may include: conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure that includes a conductive pillar to the first planar coil.
  • Example 20 may include elements of example 11 where forming a first coil may include: forming a first coil that includes a plurality of turns.
  • Example 21 may include elements of example 11 where forming a first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate may include: patterning a first planar coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate.
  • Example 22 may include elements of any of examples 11 through 21 where forming a first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate may include: forming a first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite a first sacrificial silicon substrate.
  • the semiconductor package may include: a semiconductor die; a semiconductor inductor conductively coupled to the semiconductor die, the semiconductor inductor including: a first sacrificial substrate having a thickness, a first surface and a second surface; a first stop layer deposited across at least a portion of the first surface of the first sacrificial substrate; a first coil having a first surface and a second surface deposited across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; a first dielectric layer having a thickness disposed at least partially across the first coil; and at least one first conductive structure conductively coupled to the first coil and extending through the thickness of the first dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil, the at least one first conductive structure conductively coupled to the semiconductor die.
  • Example 24 may include elements of example 23, and the semiconductor package may additionally include: a mold compound disposed across at least a portion of the semiconductor die and at least partially about the semiconductor inductor.
  • Example 25 may include elements of example 23, and the semiconductor package may additionally include: a mold compound disposed across at least a portion of the semiconductor die and across at least a portion of the first stop layer of the semiconductor inductor after removal of at least a portion of the thickness of the first sacrificial substrate.
  • Example 26 may include elements of example 23 where the sacrificial substrate may include a silicon wafer.
  • Example 27 may include elements of example 23 where the stop layer may include silicon carbide.
  • Example 28 may include elements of example 23 where the at least one conductive structure may include a solder ball.
  • Example 29 may include elements of example 23 where the at least one conductive structure may include a conductive pillar.
  • Example 30 may include elements of example 23 where the first coil comprises a coil having a plurality of turns.
  • Example 31 may include elements of example 23, and the semiconductor package may additionally include: a second coil disposed proximate and conductively coupled to the first coil by one or more second conductive structures extending through the first stop layer after removal of at least a portion of the first sacrificial layer; where the second coil has a first surface disposed proximate a second dielectric layer and an opposed second surface deposited across at least a portion of a second stop layer; and where the second conductive structures extend through the second dielectric layer.
  • Example 32 may include elements of example 31 where the second coil is spaced a distance from the first coil, forming an interstitial space between the first coil and the second coil.
  • Example 33 may include elements of example 32, and the semiconductor package may additionally include: an underfill at least partially filling the interstitial space between the first coil and the second coil.
  • Example 34 may include elements of example 23, and the semiconductor inductor may additionally include: a magnetic core material disposed proximate at least a portion of the first stop layer after removal of at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate.
  • Example 35 may include elements of example 23, and the semiconductor inductor may additionally include: a mold compound disposed across at least a portion of the semiconductor die and at least partially about the semiconductor inductor.
  • Example 36 may include elements or example 23, and the semiconductor inductor may additionally include: an etch-resist compound disposed across at least a portion of the semiconductor die and about at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate.
  • Example 37 may include elements of example 36, and the semiconductor inductor may additionally include: a magnetic core material disposed proximate at least a portion of the first stop layer after removal of at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate.
  • a method of fabricating a first semiconductor package may include: the method comprising: forming a semiconductor inductor by: depositing a first stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate having a first thickness; forming a first coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; depositing a first dielectric layer having a thickness at least partially across the first coil; and conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil, the at least one first conductive structure extending through the thickness of the first dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil; and conductively coupling the semiconductor inductor to a semiconductor die using the at least one conductive structure.
  • Example 39 may include elements of example 38, and the method may additionally include: disposing a mold compound across at least a portion of the semiconductor die and at least partially about the semiconductor inductor.
  • Example 40 may include elements of example 39, and the method may additionally include: removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate to expose at least a portion of the first stop layer.
  • Example 41 may include elements of example 40, and the method may additionally include: depositing a magnetic core material across at least a portion of the exposed portion of the first stop layer.
  • Example 42 may include elements of example 40 where removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate to expose at least a portion of the first stop layer may include: removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate via spin etching to expose the portion of the first stop layer.
  • Example 43 may include elements of example 38, and the method may additionally include: disposing a mold compound disposed across at least a portion of the semiconductor die and across at least a portion of the first semiconductor inductor stop layer after removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate to expose at least a portion of the first stop layer.
  • Example 44 may include elements of example 38, and the method may additionally include: forming a second semiconductor inductor by: depositing a second stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a second sacrificial substrate; forming a second coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface across at least a portion of the second stop layer opposite the second sacrificial substrate; depositing a second dielectric layer having a thickness at least partially across the second coil; and conductively coupling at least one second conductive structure to the second planar coil, the at least one second conductive structure extending through the thickness of the second dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the second dielectric layer opposite the second coil; and conductively coupling the at least one second conductive structure to the first coil, the at least one second conductive structure extending through the first stop layer thickness.
  • Example 45 may include elements of example 44, and the method may additionally include: at least partially filling an interstitial space between the first coil and the second coil using an underfill.
  • Example 46 may include elements of example 38 where depositing a first stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate may include: depositing a first stop layer that includes silicon carbide across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate.
  • Example 47 may include elements of example 38 where conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil may include: conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure that includes a solder ball to the first coil.
  • Example 48 may include elements of example 38 where conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil may include: conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure that includes a conductive pillar to the first coil.
  • Example 49 may include elements of example 38 where forming a first coil comprises: forming a first planar coil that includes a plurality of turns.
  • Example 50 may include elements of example 38 where forming a first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate comprises: patterning a first planar coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate.
  • Example 51 may include elements of any of examples 38 through 50 where forming a first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate comprises: forming a first planar coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite a first sacrificial silicon substrate.

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Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for fabricating a semiconductor inductor that includes a coil deposited on a stop layer that is deposited on a sacrificial substrate. The semiconductor inductor may be fabricated on a silicon wafer and singulated. The sacrificial substrate beneficially provides structural support for the singulated semiconductor inductor. The singulated semiconductor inductor advantageously requires minimal active die surface area. The removal of the sacrificial substrate after coupling to the active die beneficially reduces the overall thickness (or height) of the semiconductor package, providing a decided advantage in low profile, portable, electronic devices.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/US2017/040381, filed on Jun. 30, 2017, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the inductors used on semiconductor dies.

BACKGROUND

Inductors, both hollow and magnetic core, are used in conjunction with semiconductor circuits. Planar inductors may consume considerable die surface area. Given the increasing emphasis on smaller and miniaturized devices, increasing die surface area frequently is either not an option or presents an extremely unattractive option that may increase the size of the host device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of various embodiments of the claimed subject matter will become apparent as the following Detailed Description proceeds, and upon reference to the Drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1

is a cross-section of an illustrative semiconductor inductor in which a coil is patterned or otherwise deposited on a stop layer that has been deposited on a sacrificial substrate, such as a silicon wafer, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 2A

is a cross-section of an illustrative system that includes a semiconductor inductor communicably coupled to an active die that includes a number of conductors or conductive pads disposed on, about, or across a surface of a substrate, a dielectric layer at least partially covers the conductors and the substrate, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 2B

is a cross section of an illustrative system that includes the semiconductor inductor and the active die depicted in

FIG. 2A

and in which a mold compound has been disposed on, across, or about the active die and about at least a portion of the perimeter of the semiconductor inductor, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 2C

is a cross-section of an illustrative system that includes the semiconductor inductor and the active die depicted in

FIG. 2A

and in which at least a portion of the sacrificial substrate has been removed from the semiconductor inductor to provide a void proximate the semiconductor inductor while the mold compound remains unaffected, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 2D

is a cross-section of an illustrative system that includes the semiconductor inductor and the active die depicted in

FIG. 2A

and in which mold compound has been deposited in the void space formed by the removal of the sacrificial substrate, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 2E

is a cross-section of an illustrative system that includes the semiconductor inductor and the active die depicted in

FIG. 2A

and in which a magnetic material has been deposited in the void space formed by the removal of the sacrificial substrate, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 3A

is a cross-section of an illustrative three-dimensional semiconductor inductor system that includes a first semiconductor inductor with the sacrificial substrate removed, communicably coupled to an active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 3B

is a cross-section of an illustrative three-dimensional semiconductor inductor system in which a second semiconductor inductor has been communicably coupled to the first semiconductor inductor depicted in

FIG. 3A

, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 3C

is a cross-section of an illustrative stacked, three-dimensional, semiconductor inductor system in which the second sacrificial substrate has been removed from the second semiconductor inductor, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 3D

is a cross-section of an illustrative stacked, three-dimensional, semiconductor inductor system in which a third semiconductor inductor has been communicably coupled to the second semiconductor inductor depicted in

FIG. 3C

, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 3E

is a cross-section of an illustrative stacked, three-dimensional, semiconductor inductor system in which the third sacrificial substrate has been removed from the third semiconductor inductor, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 4A

is a cross-section of an illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes a first semiconductor inductor, communicably coupled to an active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 4B

is a cross-section of the illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes the first semiconductor inductor, communicably coupled to an active die as depicted in

FIG. 4A

, and in which a stop layer has been deposited on, across, or about at least a portion of the surface of the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 4C

is a cross-section of the illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes the first semiconductor inductor, communicably coupled to the active die as depicted in

FIG. 4B

, and in which a removable etch resist has been deposited on, about, or across at least a portion of the exposed surface the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 4D

is a cross-section of the illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes the first semiconductor inductor, communicably coupled to the active die depicted in

FIG. 4C

and in which at least a portion of the sacrificial substrate has been removed from the first semiconductor inductor to provide a void proximate the first semiconductor inductor while the removable etch resist remains unaffected, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 4E

is a cross-section of the illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes the first semiconductor inductor, communicably coupled to the active die depicted in

FIG. 4D

and in which at least a portion of the removable etch resist has been removed to expose at least a portion of the exposed surface of the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 4F

is a cross-section of the illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes the first semiconductor inductor and a conductively coupled second semiconductor inductor coupled to an active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 5A

is a cross-section of an illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes a semiconductor inductor having the sacrificial substrate removed and replaced with a magnetic material, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 5B

is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative semiconductor inductor system that includes the semiconductor inductor that includes a magnetic material disposed proximate the stop layer, communicably coupled to the active die in which at least a portion of the removable etch resist has been removed to expose at least a portion of the exposed surface of the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 6

is a plan view of an illustrative system that includes a plurality of semiconductor inductors, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 7

is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) semiconductor package using through mold vias (TMVs) and including a number of semiconductor inductors such as described in detail with regard to

FIGS. 1-6

, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 8

is a cross-sectional elevation of another illustrative embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) semiconductor package in which both the solder balls forming the ball grid array and the semiconductor inductor are disposed on the upper surface of the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 9

is a cross-sectional elevation of another illustrative embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) semiconductor package using through mold vias (TMVs) and back-side metallization, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 10

is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) semiconductor package in which a semiconductor inductor is conductively coupled to the upper surface of the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 11

is a cross-sectional elevation of an embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB) semiconductor package that includes a mold compound disposed on the lower surface of the active die and a removable etch resist disposed on the upper surface of the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 12

is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) semiconductor package in which a semiconductor inductor is fabricated using a removable etch resist and conductively coupled to the upper surface of the active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 13

is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) semiconductor package in which semiconductor inductors are fabricated using a removable etch resist and conductively coupled to the active die by through silicon vias (TSVs), in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 14

is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative stacked die in which conductive members, such as copper pillars, couple a second semiconductor die to an active die encapsulated in a dielectric material and in which the active die is conductively coupled to a redistribution layer, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 15

is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative stacked die in which conductive members, such as copper pillars, couple a second semiconductor die to an active die coupled to a semiconductor inductor and in which the active die is conductively coupled to a redistribution layer, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 16

is a high-level flow diagram of an illustrative semiconductor inductor fabrication method in which a planar coil having one or more windings is formed or otherwise patterned onto a stop layer that has been deposited on a sacrificial substrate, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein;

FIG. 17

is a high-level flow diagram of an illustrative semiconductor inductor fabrication method in which at least a portion of the sacrificial substrate is removed to expose the stop layer, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein; and

FIG. 18

is a high-level flow diagram of an illustrative semiconductor package fabrication method in which the semiconductor inductor is conductively coupled to an active die, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein.

Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The systems and methods disclosed herein hollow-core and magnetic-core inductors that may be coupled to a semiconductor die during the packaging process. A coil may be patterned or otherwise formed on a stop layer that has been deposited on a sacrificial substrate material, e.g., a silicon wafer. The coil may be covered with a dielectric material and channels or vias may be formed in the dielectric material, exposing the coil. Conductive members such as solder balls, solder bumps, or conductive pillars may be deposited, inserted, or otherwise formed in the channels or vias to conductively couple the coil to an external circuit, such as found on a semiconductor die.

All or a portion of the sacrificial substrate may be removed in the region of the structure proximate the coil. A magnetic material, such as a magnetic paste, may be deposited proximate the coil after removal of the sacrificial substrate. In embodiments the planar (i.e., two-dimensional) coil may be encapsulated and coupled to a semiconductor die using the previously deposited conductive members. Alternatively, additional coils may be stacked to provide a three dimensional coil structure using a similar construction technique: invert the coil, use the conductive members to conductively couple to the underlying coil, and remove the sacrificial substrate. Any number of coils, each having one or more turns, may be combined.

In embodiments, a gap may exist between the coil and the surface of the semiconductor die and, for stacked coils, between successive coil turns in the stack. In some implementations, the gap between the lowermost coil in the stack and the semiconductor die surface may be partially or filled by flowing an electrically insulating adhesive or underfill material between the lowermost coil in the stack and the surface of the semiconductor die. Similarly, the gaps between successive coils may be filled by flowing an electrically insulating adhesive or underfill material between successive coils.

The systems and methods described herein provide a single- or multi-turn coil that may be conductively coupled to an active die at the wafer level, i.e., prior to die singulation. The coil is formed on a stop layer deposited on a sacrificial substrate, such as a silicon carrier die. Conductive structures, such as solder balls or conductive columns may be coupled to the coil and the coil encapsulated using a dielectric material. The coil may be coupled to an active die that is subsequently fully encapsulated, leaving only the sacrificial substrate exposed. Since the active die is encapsulated, the sacrificial substrate may be thinned or completely removed, for example using a wet-etch or plasma-etch, without exposing the active die to the etchant. Consequently, only the coil stack remains coupled to the active die after etching.

Such construction offers significant, non-trivial, advantages that include: the thinnest possible coil structure for attachment to the active die since the sacrificial substrate may be partially or completely removed from the coil; compatibility with wafer level chip scale packaging (WLCSP) with the coil attached by the conductive members to the active die and using a removable resist as a first encapsulant; compatibility with existing manufacturing equipment and stack-up permitting the use of multiple materials (copper, aluminum, etc.) in a variety of line widths and thicknesses for coil fabrication; reduced area requirements on the active die; and, no handling of thin coil components.

A semiconductor inductor is provided. The semiconductor inductor may include: a first sacrificial substrate having a thickness, a first surface and a transversely opposed second surface; a first stop layer deposited across at least a portion of the first surface of the first sacrificial substrate; a first coil having a first surface and a second surface deposited across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; a first dielectric layer having a thickness disposed at least partially across the first coil; and at least one first conductive structure conductively coupled to the first coil and extending through the first dielectric layer thickness and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil.

A method of fabricating a first semiconductor inductor is provided. The method may include: depositing a first stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate; forming a first coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; depositing a first dielectric layer having a thickness at least partially across the first coil; and conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil, the at least one first conductive structure extending through the thickness of the first dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil.

A semiconductor package is provided. The semiconductor package may include: a semiconductor die; a semiconductor inductor conductively coupled to the semiconductor die, the semiconductor inductor including: a first sacrificial substrate having a thickness, a first surface and a second surface; a first stop layer deposited across at least a portion of the first surface of the first sacrificial substrate; a first coil having a first surface and a second surface deposited across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; a first dielectric layer having a thickness disposed at least partially across the first coil; and at least one first conductive structure conductively coupled to the first coil and extending through the thickness of the first dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil, the at least one first conductive structure conductively coupled to the semiconductor die.

A method of fabricating a first semiconductor package is provided. The method may include: the method comprising: forming a semiconductor inductor by: depositing a first stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate having a first thickness; forming a first coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; depositing a passivation layer and a first dielectric layer having a thickness at least partially across the first coil; and conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil, the at least one first conductive structure extending through the thickness of the first dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil; and conductively coupling the semiconductor inductor to a semiconductor die using the at least one conductive structure.

As used herein the terms “top,” “bottom,” “lowermost,” and “uppermost” when used in relationship to one or more elements are intended to convey a relative rather than absolute physical configuration. Thus, an element described as an “uppermost element” or a “top element” in a device may instead form the “lowermost element” or “bottom element” in the device when the device is inverted. Similarly, an element described as the “lowermost element” or “bottom element” in the device may instead form the “uppermost element” or “top element” in the device when the device is inverted.

As used herein, the term “logically associated” when used in reference to a number of objects, systems, or elements, is intended to convey the existence of a relationship between the objects, systems, or elements such that access to one object, system, or element exposes the remaining objects, systems, or elements having a “logical association” with or to the accessed object, system, or element. An example “logical association” exists between relational databases where access to an element in a first database may provide information and/or data from one or more elements in a number of additional databases, each having an identified relationship to the accessed element. In another example, if “A” is logically associated with “B,” accessing “A” will expose or otherwise draw information and/or data from “B,” and vice-versa.

FIG. 1

is a cross-section of an

illustrative semiconductor inductor

100 in which a

coil

110 is patterned or otherwise deposited on a

stop layer

120 that has been deposited on a

sacrificial substrate

130, such as a silicon wafer, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. A plurality of

conductive structures

140, such as the solder balls illustrated in

FIG. 1

, conductively couple to the

coil

110. At least one of a passivation layer and/or a

dielectric layer

150 covers at least a portion of the

coil

110 and surrounds the

conductive structures

140.

The

coil

110 may be patterned onto the

stop layer

120 using any currently available or future developed deposition technique. Example deposition techniques include, but are not limited to: photolithography; electroplating; electro-less deposition; and similar. The

coil

110 may have any dimensions, size, shape, or physical configuration. In embodiments, the

coil

110 may be a two-dimensional coil having a plurality of concentric turns. In embodiments, the

coil

110 may have only single turn. The

coil

110 may have any regular physical shape, such as circular, oval, polygonal, and similar, or an irregular shape, such as trapezoidal, ovoid, and similar. The

coil

110 may be fabricated from any conductive material including, but not limited to, one or more metals or metal alloys, one or more conductive polymers, or one or more conductive non-metallic materials, such as graphene. Example metals may include, but are not limited to: copper, copper alloys, aluminum, and aluminum alloys. The conductors forming the coil may have any width and/or thickness. For example, the

coil

110 may have a width of greater than: about 5 nanometers (nm); about 7 nm; about 10 nm; about 15 nm; about 20 nm; about 30 nm; about 50 nm; about 100 nm; about 250 nm; about 500 nm; about 1 μm; about 5 μm; about 10 μm.

In embodiments, the

coil

110 may be formed using a metal patterning process. For example, in some embodiments, the

coil

110 may be formed using a patterning process such as: depositing a metal layer on the

stop layer

120; depositing a photoresist on the metal layer; applying a mask to the photoresist and exposing the photoresist to electromagnetic radiation having a defined spectral content; selectively removing portions of the photoresist; etching the metal layer to produce the

coil

110; and, removing the remaining photoresist from the coil structure. In another example, the coil may be formed using a patterning process such as: sputtering a metal (e.g., TiW/Cu) on the

top layer

120; depositing a photoresist on the metal layer; applying a mask to the photoresist and exposing the photoresist to electromagnetic radiation having a defined spectral content; selectively removing portions of the photoresist; etching the metal layer to produce the

coil

110; electro or electroless plating the resultant structure; strip the remaining photoresist; and, etching the TiW/Cu.

The

stop layer

120 may be deposited on, across, or about all or a portion of the

sacrificial substrate

130. The

stop layer

120 may include one or more materials, compounds, or layers capable of preventing the passage of an etchant beyond the

stop layer

120. For example, the

stop layer

120 may include at least one of: silicon nitride (SiN); silicon carbide (SiC); Silicon Oxide (SiO2). The

stop layer

120 may be deposited using any currently available or future developed deposition technique. Example deposition techniques include, but are not limited to: chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, molecular beam epitaxy; electrochemical deposition; plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition; spin coating; and similar. The

stop layer

120 may have any thickness. For example, the

stop layer

120 may have a thickness of less than: about 20 nanometers (nm); about 30 nm; about 50 nm; about 70 nm; about 90 nm; or about 130 nm.

The

sacrificial substrate

130 provides structural support for the

coil

110 and the

stop layer

120 until fabrication of the coil structure is complete and the

coil

110 is coupled to an active die. The

sacrificial substrate

130 beneficially provides structural support for the

coil

110 prior to communicably coupling the

coil

110 to an active die and may be removed from the

coil

110 once the coil is coupled to the active die, thereby beneficially reducing both the weight and thickness of the resultant semiconductor package. In embodiments, the sacrificial substrate may contain silicon. In embodiments, a silicon wafer may provide the

sacrificial substrate

130 and multiple coils may be formed on the wafer prior to singulation. The

sacrificial substrate

130 may have any thickness. For example, the

sacrificial substrate

130 may have a thickness of less than: about 800 micrometers (μm); about 700 μm; about 600 μm; about 500 μm; about 400 μm; about 300 μm; or about 200 μm. Where a silicon wafer is used to provide the

sacrificial substrate

130, the silicon wafer may have a diameter of: about 450 millimeter (mm); about 300 mm; about 200 mm; about 150 mm; about 130 mm; about 100 mm; about 76 mm; about 50 mm; or about 25 mm.

The

conductive structures

140 may include any device or feature capable of conductively coupling the

inductor

100 to an external system, such as an active die. Any number and/or combination of

conductive structure

140 may be used to communicably couple the

coil

110 to an external device or system, such as an active die. The

conductive structures

140 may include any currently available or future developed device and/or system capable of conductively coupling the

inductor

100 to an external device or system. The

conductive structures

140 may physically affix the

inductor

100 to an external device or system. In some implementations, the

conductive structures

140 may include one or more solder balls. In some implementations, the

conductive structures

140 may include one or more conductive pillars. In some implementations, the

conductive structures

140 may include solder bumps.

The

dielectric layer

150 is disposed on, across, or about the

coil

110 and on, across, or about the

stop layer

120. In embodiments, the

dielectric layer

150 encapsulates the

coil

110 and at least partially encapsulates the

conductive structures

140. In embodiments, at least a portion of the

conductive structures

140 may extend or project beyond the surface of the

dielectric layer

150 opposite the

coil

110. The dielectric layer may include one or more electrically insulating materials. Example dielectric materials include, but are not limited to: nanoporous silica; hydrogensilsesquioxanes (HSQ); Teflon®-AF (polytetrafluoethylene or PTFE); silicon oxyflouride (FSG); silicon dioxide (SiO2); silicon nitride; alkali halides; barium titanate (BaTiO3); hafnium oxide (HfO2); tantalum oxide (TaO5); tungsten oxide (WO3); zirconium oxide (ZrO2); and similar.

FIG. 2A

is a cross-section of an

illustrative system

200A that includes a

semiconductor inductor

100 communicably coupled to an

active die

210 that includes a number of conductors or

conductive pads

220 disposed on, about, or across a surface of a

substrate

230, a

dielectric layer

240 at least partially covers the

conductors

220 and the

substrate

230, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. It should be noted that the embodiments described in

FIGS. 2A through 2E

may be performed at the wafer level, i.e., prior to die singulation.

In embodiments, the

semiconductor inductor

100 may be inverted (such that the

conductive structures

140 extend from the “bottom” of the

semiconductor inductor

100. The

conductive structures

140 may contact and be physically and conductively coupled to the same or a different number of

conductors

220 disposed on the surface of the

active die

210. The

dielectric layer

240 may be disposed at least partially about the

conductive structures

140 and

conductors

220. In embodiments, the

dielectric layer

240 may electrically isolate the

semiconductor inductor

100 from the

active die

210.

The

active die

210 may include any type or number of electrical components, semiconductor devices, and/or logic elements. The

active die

210 may include one or more processors, microprocessor, controllers, microcontrollers, programmable gate arrays (PGAs), systems on a chip (SoCs), reduced instruction set computers (RISCs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), central processing units (CPUs), graphical processing units (GPUs), and similar. In embodiments, the

active die

210 may include one or more mobile device processors, communications interfaces, such as: IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi); Bluetooth®, Near Field Communication (NFC), or combinations thereof.

FIG. 2B

is a cross section of an

illustrative system

200B that includes the

semiconductor inductor

100 and the

active die

210 depicted in

FIG. 2A

and in which a

mold compound

250 has been disposed on, across, or about the

active die

210 and about at least a portion of the perimeter of the

semiconductor inductor

100, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. The

mold compound

250 may include any electrically non-conductive material, compound, or substance capable of protecting the

active die

210. Example mold compounds include, but are not limited to: elastomers, such as silicone, polyurethane, chloroprene, butyl, polybutadiene, neoprene, natural rubber or isoprene, and other synthetic rubber or compounds; composite compounds that include resins made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties; thermoplastics that include polymers that turn to liquid when heated and turn solid when cooled; thermosets that include polymer materials that have been irreversibly cured; and silicone molding compounds. The upper surface of the

mold compound

250 opposite the active die may be lower, higher, or the same elevation as the upper surface of the

sacrificial substrate

130 opposite the

stop layer

120.

FIG. 2C

is a cross-section of an

illustrative system

200C that includes the

semiconductor inductor

100 and the

active die

210 depicted in

FIG. 2A

and in which at least a portion of the

sacrificial substrate

130 has been removed from the

semiconductor inductor

100 to provide a void 260 proximate the

semiconductor inductor

100 while the

mold compound

250 remains unaffected, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. All or a portion of the thickness of the

sacrificial substrate

130 may be removed using one or more material removal systems, processes, or devices to form the void 260 proximate the

semiconductor inductor

100. For example, all or a portion of the thickness of the

sacrificial substrate

130 may be removed using wet chemistry on a spin etcher. The etching process may halt upon reaching the

stop layer

120. The

mold compound

250 remains unaffected by the etching process.

FIG. 2D

is a cross-section of an

illustrative system

200D that includes the

semiconductor inductor

100 and the

active die

210 depicted in

FIG. 2A

and in which

mold compound

270 has been deposited in the

void space

260 formed by the removal of the

sacrificial substrate

130, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. The

mold compound

270 may be the same as or different from the

mold compound

250 previously deposited on, about, or across the

active die

210. In embodiments, the

upper surface

272 of

mold compound

270 may be above, below, or at the same elevation as the

upper surface

252 of

mold compound

250. In some implementations, after deposition of

mold compound

270, the

upper surface

272 of mold compound and the

upper surface

252 of

mold compound

250 may be mechanically planarized, chemically planarized, or any combination thereof. In some implementations, the

upper surface

272 of

mold compound

270 and the

upper surface

252 of

mold compound

250 may be finished using one or more chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) processes.

FIG. 2E

is a cross-section of an

illustrative system

200E that includes the

semiconductor inductor

100 and the

active die

210 depicted in

FIG. 2A

and in which a

magnetic material

280 has been deposited in the

void space

260 formed by the removal of the

sacrificial substrate

130, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. In embodiments, the

upper surface

282 of the

magnetic material

280 may be above, below, or at the same elevation as the

upper surface

252 of

mold compound

250. In some implementations, after deposition of the

magnetic material

280, the

upper surface

282 of the

magnetic material

280 and the

upper surface

252 of

mold compound

250 may be mechanically planarized, chemically planarized, or any combination thereof. In some implementations, the

upper surface

282 of the

magnetic material

280 and the

upper surface

252 of

mold compound

250 may be finished using one or more chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) processes.

The

magnetic material

280 improves the inductive performance of the

semiconductor inductor

100. The

magnetic material

280 may include one or more non-electrically conductive materials demonstrating magnetic properties. Example magnetic materials may include one or more soft magnetic composite materials, such as one or more ferritic materials encapsulated in a non-electrically conductive material or polymer). The backside of the setup can be finally cover by a protection layer, e.g. backside protection tape (BSP).

FIG. 3A

is a cross-section of an illustrative three-dimensional

semiconductor inductor system

300A that includes a

first semiconductor inductor

110A with the sacrificial substrate 130A removed, communicably coupled to an

active die

210, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. As depicted in

FIG. 3A

, a

first semiconductor inductor

110A is physically and communicably coupled to the

active die

210 by a plurality of

conductive structures

140A. The

active die

210 has been covered with a

mold compound

250 and the sacrificial substrate 130A has been removed from the

semiconductor inductor

110A, leaving a

void space

260 above the

semiconductor inductor

110A.

FIG. 3B

is a cross-section of an illustrative three-dimensional

semiconductor inductor system

300B in which a

second semiconductor inductor

100B has been communicably coupled to the

first semiconductor inductor

100A depicted in

FIG. 3A

, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. As depicted in

FIG. 3B

, removal of at least a portion of the

first stop layer

120A exposes the first

semiconductor inductor coil

110A. In embodiments, portions of the

first stop layer

120A may be selectively removed using one or more laser material removal processes or using one or more lithographic and reactive ion etching processes. In other embodiments, although not depicted in

FIG. 3B

, the

first stop layer

120A may be removed in its entirety. For example, the

first stop layer

120A may be completely removed using one or more plasma etch processes.

After the partial or complete removal of the

first stop layer

120, the

second semiconductor inductor

100B may be physically and communicably coupled to the

first semiconductor inductor

100A using second

conductive structures

140B. A

first etch seal

310A may be added about all or a portion of the periphery of the

second semiconductor inductor

100B. A

first gap

320A may exist between the

first semiconductor inductor

100A and the

second semiconductor inductor

100B. Although not depicted in

FIG. 3B

, in some implementations, one or more non-electrically conductive underfill materials may be used to at least partially fill the

first gap

320A between the

first semiconductor inductor

100A and the

second semiconductor inductor

100B.

FIG. 3C

is a cross-section of an illustrative stacked, three-dimensional,

semiconductor inductor system

300C in which the second

sacrificial substrate

130B has been removed from the

second semiconductor inductor

100B, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. All or a portion of the thickness of the second

sacrificial substrate

130B may be removed using one or more material removal systems, processes, or devices. For example, all or a portion of the thickness of the second

sacrificial substrate

130B may be removed using wet chemistry on a spin etcher. The etching process may halt upon reaching the

second stop layer

120B. The

mold compound

250 remains unaffected by the wet chemistry etching process. The presence of the first etch stop 310A prevents the wet etch process from entering the

first gap

320A and affecting the underlying

first semiconductor inductor

100A.

FIG. 3D

is a cross-section of an illustrative stacked, three-dimensional,

semiconductor inductor system

300D in which a

third semiconductor inductor

100C has been communicably coupled to the

second semiconductor inductor

100B depicted in

FIG. 3C

, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. As depicted in

FIG. 3D

, removal of at least a portion of the

second stop layer

120B exposes at least a portion of the

second coil

110B. In embodiments, portions of the

second stop layer

120B may be selectively removed using one or more laser material removal processes or using one or more lithographic and reactive ion etching processes. In other embodiments, although not depicted in

FIG. 3D

, the

second stop layer

120B may be completely removed. For example, the

second stop layer

120B may be completely removed using one or more plasma etch processes.

After the partial or complete removal of the

second stop layer

120B, the

third semiconductor inductor

100C may be physically and communicably coupled to the

second semiconductor inductor

100B using the third

conductive structures

140C. A

second etch seal

310B may be added about all or a portion of the periphery of the

third semiconductor inductor

100C. A

second gap

320B may exist between the

second semiconductor inductor

100B and the

third semiconductor inductor

100C. Although not depicted in

FIG. 3D

, in some implementations, one or more non-electrically conductive underfill materials may be used to at least partially fill the

second gap

320B between the

second semiconductor inductor

100B and the

third semiconductor inductor

100C.

FIG. 3E

is a cross-section of an illustrative stacked, three-dimensional,

semiconductor inductor system

300E in which the third

sacrificial substrate

130C has been removed from the

third semiconductor inductor

100C, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. All or a portion of the thickness of the third

sacrificial substrate

130C may be removed using one or more material removal systems, processes, or devices. For example, all or a portion of the thickness of the third

sacrificial substrate

130C may be removed using wet chemistry on a spin etcher. The etching process may halt upon reaching the

third stop layer

120C. The

mold compound

250 remains unaffected by the wet chemistry etching process. The presence of the

second etch stop

310B prevents the wet etch process from entering the

second gap

320B and affecting the underlying

second semiconductor inductor

100B.

FIG. 4A

is a cross-section of an illustrative

semiconductor inductor system

400A that includes a

first semiconductor inductor

100A, communicably coupled to an

active die

210, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. As depicted in

FIG. 4A

, a

first semiconductor inductor

100A is physically and communicably coupled to the

active die

210 by a plurality of

conductive structures

140A. In some implementations, an electrically non-conductive material or

filler

410 may be disposed at least partially beneath the

first semiconductor inductor

100A. In some implementations, the electrically non-conductive material or

filler

410 may physically bond or adhere the

first semiconductor inductor

100A to the

active die

210.

In embodiments, rather than using a

mold compound

250 to encapsulate and protect the

active die

210 as discussed in detail in

FIGS. 3A-3E

, a removable etch resist may be used to encapsulate and protect the

active die

210. The use of a removable etch resist compound would permit re-exposing the

active die

210 after the conductive coupling of one or

more semiconductor inductors

100 to the

active die

210. Such a construction would beneficially facilitate the attachment of solder balls or similar conductive structures to the exposed

surface

242 of the

active die

210 to provide a wafer level package.

FIG. 4B

is a cross-section of the illustrative

semiconductor inductor system

400B that includes the

first semiconductor inductor

100A, communicably coupled to an

active die

210 as depicted in

FIG. 4A

, and in which a

stop layer

420 has been deposited on, across, or about at least a portion of the surface of the

active die

210, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. In embodiments, the

stop layer

420 may include a layer that includes carbon or one or more carbon containing compounds. In embodiments, the

stop layer

420 may extend across all or a portion of the

surface

242 of the

active die

210, but may not extend beneath the

first semiconductor inductor

100A. In other embodiments, the

stop layer

420 may extend across all or a portion of the

surface

242 of the

active die

210 and at least partially beneath the

first semiconductor inductor

100A.

FIG. 4C

is a cross-section of the illustrative

semiconductor inductor system

400C that includes the

first semiconductor inductor

100A, communicably coupled to the

active die

210 as depicted in

FIG. 4B

, and in which a removable etch resist 430 has been deposited on, about, or across at least a portion of the exposed

surface

242 the

active die

210, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. In embodiments, the removable etch resist 430 may include any compound that provides sufficient resistance to the wet chemistry used to remove the

sacrificial substrate

130 from the

first semiconductor inductor

100A, but remains removable to permit additional processing of the active die after the assembly of the

first semiconductor inductor

100A to the

active die

210. In some implementations, the removable etch resist 430 may include one or more photosensitive removable etch resist compounds.

FIG. 4D

is a cross-section of the illustrative

semiconductor inductor system

400D that includes the

first semiconductor inductor

100A, communicably coupled to the

active die

210 depicted in

FIG. 4C

and in which at least a portion of the

sacrificial substrate

130 has been removed from the

first semiconductor inductor

100A to provide a void 260 proximate the

first semiconductor inductor

100A while the removable etch resist 430 remains unaffected, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. All or a portion of the thickness of the

sacrificial substrate

130 may be removed using one or more material removal systems, processes, or devices to form the void 260 proximate the

first semiconductor inductor

100A. For example, all or a portion of the thickness of the

sacrificial substrate

130 may be removed using wet chemistry on a spin etcher. The etching process may halt upon reaching the

stop layer

120. The removable etch resist 430 remains unaffected by the wet chemistry etching process.

FIG. 4E

is a cross-section of the illustrative

semiconductor inductor system

400E that includes the

first semiconductor inductor

100A, communicably coupled to the

active die

210 depicted in

FIG. 4D

and in which at least a portion of the removable etch resist 430 has been removed to expose at least a portion of the exposed

surface

242 of the

active die

210, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. The removable etch resist 430 may be partially or completely removed using any currently available or future developed removal process that does not affect the performance of the

stop layer

120 on the

first semiconductor inductor

100A. In embodiments, the removable etch resist 430 may be removed via one or more plasma etching processes or wet chemistry etching processes. In embodiments, exposing the

surface

242 of the

active die

210 beneficially facilitates the attachment of solder balls or similar conductive structures to the exposed

surface

242 of the

active die

210 to provide a wafer level package.

FIG. 4F

is a cross-section of the illustrative

semiconductor inductor system

400F that includes the

first semiconductor inductor

100A and a conductively coupled

second semiconductor inductor

100B coupled to an

active die

210, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. Prior to removal of the removable etch resist 430, any number of

additional semiconductor inductors

100B-100 n may be conductively coupled to the active die to provide a stacked, three-dimensional semiconductor inductor. Any number of

semiconductor inductors

100A-100 n may stacked by: etching the

stop layer

120 of the uppermost semiconductor inductor, conductively coupling the next semiconductor inductor to the upper most semiconductor inductor using one or more

conductive structures

140, and removing the

sacrificial substrate

130 from the newly added semiconductor inductor.

FIG. 5A

is a cross-section of an illustrative

semiconductor inductor system

500A that includes a

semiconductor inductor

100 having the

sacrificial substrate

130 removed and replaced with a

magnetic material

510, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. The

semiconductor inductor

100 conductively couples to an

active die

210 having a removable etch resist 430 disposed on, about, or across at least a portion of the exposed

surface

242 of the

active die

210. In embodiments, the

upper surface

512 of the

magnetic material

510 may be above, below, or at the same elevation as the

upper surface

432 of the removable etch resist 430. The

magnetic material

510 improves the inductive performance of the

semiconductor inductor

100. The

magnetic material

510 may include one or more non-electrically conductive materials demonstrating magnetic properties. Example magnetic materials may include one or more soft magnetic composite materials, such as one or more ferritic materials encapsulated in a non-electrically conductive material or polymer).

FIG. 5B

is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative

semiconductor inductor system

500B that includes the

semiconductor inductor

100 that includes a

magnetic material

510 disposed proximate the

stop layer

120, communicably coupled to the

active die

210 in which at least a portion of the removable etch resist 430 has been removed to expose at least a portion of the exposed

surface

242 of the

active die

210, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. The removable etch resist 430 may be partially or completely removed using any currently available or future developed removal process that does not affect the performance of the

stop layer

120 on the

semiconductor inductor

100. In embodiments, the removable etch resist 430 may be removed via one or more plasma etching processes or wet chemistry etching processes. In embodiments, exposing the

surface

242 of the

active die

210 beneficially facilitates the attachment of solder balls or similar conductive structures to the exposed

surface

242 of the

active die

210 to provide a wafer level package.

FIG. 6

is a plan view of an

illustrative system

600 that includes a plurality of

semiconductor inductors

100A-100H, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. Each of the

semiconductor inductors

100A-100H includes a plurality of windings disposed across the surface of the

active die

210.

FIG. 7

is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB)

semiconductor package

700 using through mold vias (TMVs) 710A-710D (collectively, “TMVs 710”) and including a number of semiconductor inductors such as described in detail with regard to

FIGS. 1-6

, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. As depicted in

FIG. 7

, the TMVs 710 conductively couple the

pads

220 on the

active die

230 to an exposed ball grid array that includes a number of

solder balls

720A-720D on the package bottom. In embodiments, a redistribution layer (RDL) may provide all or a portion of the

pads

220. The

semiconductor package

700 includes a single

coil semiconductor inductor

100 and a stacked

coil semiconductor inductor

300 that includes a

first semiconductor inductor

100A and a

second semiconductor inductor

100B. The single

coil semiconductor inductor

100 and the stacked

coil semiconductor inductor

300 conductively couple to the upper surface of the

active die

230. The

active die

230, the

semiconductor inductor

100 and the

stacked semiconductor inductor

300 are encapsulated in

mold compound

250 to provide the

eWLB semiconductor package

700. Although only two

semiconductor inductors

100 and 300 are depicted in

FIG. 7

, any number of

semiconductor inductors

100 and/or stacked

semiconductor inductors

300 may be similarly coupled to the

active die

230.

FIG. 8

is a cross-sectional elevation of another illustrative embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB)

semiconductor package

800 in which both the

solder balls

820A-820E forming the ball grid array and the

semiconductor inductor

100 are disposed on the upper surface of the

active die

230, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. In embodiments, the

active die

230 and the

semiconductor inductor

100 may be encapsulated in

mold compound

250. In such embodiments, the

pads

220 on the upper surface of the

active die

230 may be opened, for example using one or more laser ablation or other similar selective material removal processes, and the solder balls 820 inserted to conductively couple the

eWLB semiconductor package

800 to an external device. Although only a

single semiconductor inductor

100 is depicted in

FIG. 8

, any number of

semiconductor inductors

100 may be similarly coupled to the

active die

230.

FIG. 9

is a cross-sectional elevation of another illustrative embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB)

semiconductor package

900 using through mold vias (TMVs) 910A-910D (collectively, “TMVs 910”) and back-side metallization, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. The

eWLB semiconductor package

900 includes three

semiconductor inductors

100A, 100B, and 100C. TMVs 910 conductively

couple semiconductor inductors

100A and 100C to the

active die

230.

Semiconductor inductors

100A and 100C are encapsulated by the

mold compound

250 forming the

eWLB semiconductor package

900.

Semiconductor inductor

100B includes a

magnetic material

270 cap disposed proximate the

stop layer

120. Although two

semiconductor inductors

100A, 100C are depicted coupled to the front side of the

active die

230 using TMVs in

FIG. 9

, any number of

semiconductor inductors

100 may be similarly coupled to the

active die

230 using TMVs. Although a

single semiconductor inductor

100B is depicted coupled to the lower surface of the

active die

230, any number of semiconductor inductors may be similarly coupled to the lower surface of the

active die

230.

FIG. 10

is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB)

semiconductor package

1000 in which a

semiconductor inductor

100 is conductively coupled to the upper surface of the

active die

230, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. A

mold compound

250 may be used to cover the upper surface of the

active die

210 and may encapsulate the

semiconductor inductor

100. In such embodiments, the

pads

220 on the upper surface of the

active die

230 may be opened, for example using one or more laser ablation or other similar selective material removal processes, and the solder balls 1020 inserted to conductively couple the

eWLB semiconductor package

1000 to an external device. In embodiments, a solder-resist 1040 may be disposed about some or all of the

pads

220. Although a

single semiconductor inductor

100 is depicted coupled to the upper surface of the

active die

230, any number of semiconductor inductors may be similarly coupled to the upper surface of the

active die

210. In embodiments, the

semiconductor inductor

100 may be conductively coupled to the upper surface of the active die using any conductive coupling method including, but not limited to, solder balls, solder bumps, conductive pillars, and/or solder paste.

FIG. 11

is a cross-sectional elevation of an embedded wafer level ball grid array (eWLB)

semiconductor package

1100 that includes a

mold compound

250 disposed on the lower surface of the

active die

230 and a removable etch resist 430 disposed on the upper surface of the

active die

230, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. In embodiments, a solder-resist 1140 may be disposed about some or all of the

pads

220. After forming the

semiconductor inductors

100 and 300, the removable etch resist

layer

430 may be removed exposing the

pads

220 on the upper surface of the

active die

230.

Solder balls

220 may be attached to some or all of the exposed

pads

220. The resultant

eWLB semiconductor package

1100 may include exposed solder balls and

semiconductor inductors

100 and 300 conductively coupled to the upper surface of the

active die

230. Although only two semiconductor inductors are depicted coupled to the upper surface of the

active die

230, any number of semiconductor inductors may be similarly coupled to the upper surface of the

active die

230.

FIG. 12

is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP)

semiconductor package

1200 in which a

semiconductor inductor

100 is fabricated using a removable etch resist 430 and conductively coupled to the upper surface of the

active die

210, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. In embodiments, a solder-resist 1140 may be disposed about some or all of the

pads

220. A removable etch resist 430 may be deposited about the

semiconductor inductor

100 and may cover some or all of the

pads

220 on the upper surface of the

active die

210. After forming the

semiconductor inductor

100, the removable etch resist 430 may be removed, exposing the

pads

220.

Solder balls

1220A-1220F (collectively, “solder balls 1220”) may then be conductively coupled to some or all of the exposed

pads

220. The resultant WLCSP semiconductor package may include exposed solder balls 1220 and an exposed

semiconductor inductor

100. Although a

single semiconductor inductor

100 is depicted coupled to the upper surface of the

active die

210, any number of semiconductor inductors may be similarly coupled to the upper surface of the

active die

210.

FIG. 13

is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP)

semiconductor package

1300 in which

semiconductor inductors

100 are fabricated using a removable etch resist 430 and conductively coupled to the

active die

210 by through silicon vias (TSVs) 1310A-1310D (collectively, “TSVs”), in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. In embodiments, a solder-resist 1140 may be disposed about some or all of the

pads

220. A removable etch resist 430 may be deposited about the

semiconductor inductors

100 on the surface of the

silicon substrate

230 of the

active die

210. After forming the

semiconductor inductor

100, the removable etch resist 430 may be removed exposing the

underlying silicon substrate

230.

Solder balls

1320A-1320F (collectively, “solder balls 1320”) may then be conductively coupled to some or all of the exposed

pads

220 on the

active surface

210. The resultant WLCSP semiconductor package may include exposed solder balls 1220 on the

active die

210 and exposed

semiconductor inductors

100A and 100B on the

silicon substrate

230, opposite the

active die

210. Although two

semiconductor inductors

100A and 100B are depicted coupled to the surface of the

silicon substrate

230, any number of semiconductor inductors may be similarly coupled to the surface of the

silicon substrate

230.

FIG. 14

is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative stacked die in which

conductive members

1450, such as copper pillars, couple a second semiconductor die 1410 to an

active die

210 encapsulated in a

dielectric material

1440 and in which the

active die

210 is conductively coupled to a redistribution layer, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. As depicted in

FIG. 14

, the

semiconductor inductor

100 may be conductively coupled to the surface of the

silicon substrate

230 that this opposite the

active die

210 using a number of through silicon vias (TSVs) 1460. Also as depicted in

FIG. 14

, an underfill may be disposed at least partially between the

semiconductor inductor

100 and the surface of the

silicon substrate

230. The

dielectric material

1440 may also encapsulate a number of

conductive layers

1480. A plurality of solder balls 1420 may be conductively coupled to the redistribution layer.

FIG. 15

is a cross-sectional elevation of an illustrative stacked die in which conductive members 1550, such as copper pillars, couple a second semiconductor die 1510 to an

active die

210 coupled to a

semiconductor inductor

100 and in which the

active die

210 is conductively coupled to a redistribution layer, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. As depicted in

FIG. 15

, the

semiconductor inductor

100 may be conductively coupled to the second semiconductor die 1510 using a number of through silicon vias (TSVs) 1560. Also as depicted in

FIG. 15

, an underfill may be disposed at least partially between the

semiconductor inductor

100 and the surface of the

silicon substrate

230. The

dielectric material

1540 may also encapsulate a number of

conductive layers

1580. A plurality of solder balls 1520 may be conductively coupled to the

active layer

210.

FIG. 16

is a high-level flow diagram of an illustrative semiconductor

inductor fabrication method

1600 in which a

planar coil

110 having one or more windings is formed or otherwise patterned onto a

stop layer

120 that has been deposited on a

sacrificial substrate

130, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. The presence of the

sacrificial substrate

130 beneficially and advantageously provides structural support for the

coil

110. In embodiments, the

sacrificial substrate

130 may include a silicon substrate which permits the fabrication of a plurality of

semiconductor inductors

100 on a silicon wafer. The

semiconductor inductors

100 are singulated for coupling to active dies 210. In embodiments, the active dies 210 may be formed on a silicon wafer and the

semiconductor inductors

100 may be coupled to the active dies prior to singulation of the active dies. After coupling to the

active die

210, the sacrificial substrate may be removed from the

semiconductor inductor

100 and the resultant package encapsulated in mold compound or forwarded for additional processing. The

method

1600 commences at 1602.

At 1604, a

stop layer

120 is deposited on a

sacrificial substrate

130. In embodiments, the

stop layer

120 may include any substance capable of halting an etching or similar material removal process used to remove the

sacrificial substrate

130 from the

semiconductor inductor

100. Thus, the

sacrificial substrate

130,

stop layer

120, and etching or material removal process may be thought of as a system in which the

sacrificial substrate

130 and stop

layer

120 are selected based on a preferred etching process or in which the

stop layer

120 and etching process are selected based on a

preferred substrate

130. The

stop layer

120 may be deposited on the sacrificial substrate using any currently available or future developed deposition process. Example deposition processes include, but are not limited to: chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, molecular beam epitaxy; electrochemical deposition; plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition; spin coating; and similar. The

stop layer

120 may have any thickness. For example, the

stop layer

120 may have a thickness of less than: about 20 nanometers (nm); about 30 nm; about 50 nm; about 70 nm; about 90 nm; or about 130 nm.

The

sacrificial substrate

130 provides structural support for the

coil

110 and the

stop layer

120 until fabrication of the coil structure is complete and the

coil

110 is coupled to an active die.

The

sacrificial substrate

130 beneficially provides structural support for the

coil

110 prior to communicably coupling the

coil

110 to an active die and may be removed from the

coil

110 once the coil is coupled to the active die, thereby beneficially reducing both the weight and thickness of the resultant semiconductor package. In embodiments, the sacrificial substrate may contain silicon. In embodiments, a silicon wafer may provide the

sacrificial substrate

130 and multiple coils may be formed on the wafer prior to singulation. The

sacrificial substrate

130 may have any thickness. For example, the

sacrificial substrate

130 may have a thickness of less than: about 800 micrometers (μm); about 700 μm; about 600 μm; about 500 μm; about 400 μm; about 300 μm; or about 200 μm. Where a silicon wafer is used to provide the

sacrificial substrate

130, the silicon wafer may have a diameter of: about 450 millimeter (mm); about 300 mm; about 200 mm; about 150 mm; about 130 mm; about 100 mm; about 76 mm; about 50 mm; or about 25 mm.

At 1606, a

coil

110 is formed or otherwise patterned on, across, or about at least a portion of the

stop layer

120. The

coil

110 may have any size, shape, and/or geometry. The

coil

110 may have one or more turns or windings. The

coil

110 may be patterned onto the

stop layer

120 using any currently available or future developed deposition technique. The

coil

110 may be fabricated from any conductive material including, but not limited to, one or more metals or metal alloys, one or more conductive polymers, or one or more conductive non-metallic materials, such as graphene. Example metals may include, but are not limited to: copper, copper alloys, aluminum, and aluminum alloys. The conductors forming the coil may have any width and/or thickness. For example, the

coil

110 may have a width of greater than: about 5 nanometers (nm); about 7 nm; about 10 nm; about 15 nm; about 20 nm; about 30 nm; or about 50 nm.

At 1608, one or more

conductive structures

140 may be conductively coupled to the

coil

110. The one or more

conductive structures

140 may include any device or feature capable of conductively coupling the

inductor

100 to an external system, such as an active die. In embodiments, the

conductive structures

140 may physically affix the

inductor

100 to an external device or system. In some implementations, the

conductive structures

140 may include one or more solder balls. In some implementations, the

conductive structures

140 may include one or more conductive pillars. In some implementations, the

conductive structures

140 may include solder bumps.

At 1610, a

dielectric layer

150 is deposited across all or a portion of the

coil

110 and across all or a portion of the

stop layer

120, at least partially encapsulating the

coil

110. The

dielectric layer

150 is disposed on, across, or about the

coil

110 and on, across, or about the

stop layer

120. In embodiments, the

dielectric layer

150 encapsulates the

coil

110 and at least partially encapsulates the

conductive structures

140. In embodiments, at least a portion of the

conductive structures

140 may extend or project beyond the surface of the

dielectric layer

150 opposite the

coil

110. The dielectric layer may include one or more electrically insulating materials. Example dielectric materials include, but are not limited to: nanoporous silica; hydrogensilsesquioxanes (HSQ); Teflon®-AF (polytetrafluoethylene or PTFE); silicon oxyflouride (FSG); silicon dioxide (SiO2); silicon nitride; alkali halides; barium titanate (BaTiO3); hafnium oxide (HfO2); tantalum oxide (TaO5); tungsten oxide (WO3); zirconium oxide (ZrO2); and similar. The

method

1600 concludes at 1612.

FIG. 17

is a high-level flow diagram of an illustrative semiconductor

inductor fabrication method

1700 in which at least a portion of the

sacrificial substrate

130 is removed to expose the

stop layer

120, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. The

method

1700 may be used in conjunction with the

method

1600 described in detail above. In embodiments, the removal of the

sacrificial substrate

130 may occur after physical attachment of the

semiconductor inductor

100 to an

active die

210, based at least in part, on the structural strength and rigidity the

sacrificial substrate

130 provides during the

semiconductor inductor

100 attachment process. In embodiments, the

sacrificial substrate

130 may be removed after attaching the

semiconductor inductor

100 to an active die and after at least partially embedding the

semiconductor inductor

100 in a

mold compound

250 or removable etch resist 430. The

method

1700 commences at 1702.

At 1704, at least a portion of the

sacrificial substrate

130 is removed from the

semiconductor inductor

100. In embodiments where the

semiconductor inductor

100 has been at least partially encapsulated in

mold compound

250 or removable etch resist 430, the removal of the

sacrificial substrate

130 creates a void 260 proximate the

semiconductor inductor

100 while the

mold compound

250 or removable etch resist 430 remains unaffected. In embodiments, all or a portion of the thickness of the

sacrificial substrate

130 may be removed using wet chemistry on a spin etcher. In embodiments, the etching process may halt upon reaching the

stop layer

120.

At 1706, at least one of a

dielectric material

270 and/or a

magnetic material

280 is deposited in the void 260 formed above the

semiconductor inductor

100 by the removal of the

sacrificial substrate

130. In embodiments, the

dielectric material

270 may include mold compound similar to that previously deposited about at least a portion of the perimeter of the

semiconductor inductor

100. In embodiments, the

magnetic material

280 may include one or more non-electrically conductive materials demonstrating magnetic properties. Example magnetic materials may include one or more soft magnetic composite materials, such as one or more ferritic materials encapsulated in a non-electrically conductive material or polymer). The top surface of the

dielectric material

270 and/or the magnetic material 180 may be finished flush with the surrounding

mold compound

250 using one or more surface finishing techniques, such as chemical mechanical planarization (CMP). The

method

1700 concludes at 1708.

FIG. 18

is a high-level flow diagram of an illustrative semiconductor

package fabrication method

1800 in which the

semiconductor inductor

100 is conductively coupled to an

active die

210, in accordance with at least one embodiment described herein. The

method

1800 commences at 1802.

At 1804, the

semiconductor inductor

100 is conductively coupled to the

active die

210. In embodiments, the

semiconductor inductor

100 may be coupled directly to the surface of the

active die

210. In embodiments, the

semiconductor inductor

100 may be physically coupled to a

substrate material

230 on which the

active die

210 is formed and may be conductively coupled to the

active die

210 using one or more through-silicon vias (TSVs). In other embodiments, the

semiconductor inductor

100 may be physically coupled to an

active die

210 using one or more through mold vias (TMVs). The

method

1800 concludes at 1806.

While

FIGS. 16 through 18

illustrate various operations according to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that not all of the operations depicted in

FIGS. 16 through 18

are necessary for other embodiments. Indeed, it is fully contemplated herein that in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the operations depicted in

FIGS. 16 through 18

, and/or other operations described herein, may be combined in a manner not specifically shown in any of the drawings, but still fully consistent with the present disclosure. Thus, claims directed to features and/or operations that are not exactly shown in one drawing are deemed within the scope and content of the present disclosure.

As used in this application and in the claims, a list of items joined by the term “and/or” can mean any combination of the listed items. For example, the phrase “A, B and/or C” can mean A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; or A, B and C. As used in this application and in the claims, a list of items joined by the term “at least one of” can mean any combination of the listed terms. For example, the phrases “at least one of A, B or C” can mean A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; or A, B and C.

As used in any embodiment herein, the terms “system” or “module” may refer to, for example, software, firmware and/or circuitry configured to perform any of the aforementioned operations. Software may be embodied as a software package, code, instructions, instruction sets and/or data recorded on non-transitory computer readable storage mediums. Firmware may be embodied as code, instructions or instruction sets and/or data that are hard-coded (e.g., nonvolatile) in memory devices. “Circuitry”, as used in any embodiment herein, may comprise, for example, singly or in any combination, hardwired circuitry, programmable circuitry such as computer processors comprising one or more individual instruction processing cores, state machine circuitry, and/or firmware that stores instructions executed by programmable circuitry or future computing paradigms including, for example, massive parallelism, analog or quantum computing, hardware embodiments of accelerators such as neural net processors and non-silicon implementations of the above. The circuitry may, collectively or individually, be embodied as circuitry that forms part of a larger system, for example, an integrated circuit (IC), system on-chip (SoC), desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, servers, smartphones, etc.

Any of the operations described herein may be implemented in a system that includes one or more mediums (e.g., non-transitory storage mediums) having stored therein, individually or in combination, instructions that when executed by one or more processors perform the methods. Here, the processor may include, for example, a server CPU, a mobile device CPU, and/or other programmable circuitry. Also, it is intended that operations described herein may be distributed across a plurality of physical devices, such as processing structures at more than one different physical location. The storage medium may include any type of tangible medium, for example, any type of disk including hard disks, floppy disks, optical disks, compact disk read-only memories (CD-ROMs), rewritable compact disks (CD-RWs), and magneto-optical disks, semiconductor devices such as read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs) such as dynamic and static RAMs, erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), flash memories, Solid State Disks (SSDs), embedded multimedia cards (eMMCs), secure digital input/output (SDIO) cards, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions. Other embodiments may be implemented as software executed by a programmable control device.

Thus, the present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for fabricating a semiconductor inductor that includes a coil deposited on a stop layer that is deposited on a sacrificial substrate. The semiconductor inductor may be fabricated on a silicon wafer and singulated. The sacrificial substrate beneficially provides structural support for the singulated semiconductor inductor. The singulated semiconductor inductor advantageously requires minimal active die surface area. The removal of the sacrificial substrate after coupling to the active die beneficially reduces the overall thickness (or height) of the semiconductor package, providing a decided advantage in low profile, portable, electronic devices.

The following examples pertain to further embodiments. The following examples of the present disclosure may comprise subject material such as at least one device, a method, at least one machine-readable medium for storing instructions that when executed cause a machine to perform acts based on the method, means for performing acts based on the method and/or a system for fabricating a low-profile semiconductor inductor on a sacrificial substrate that can be coupled to an active die prior to singulation of the silicon wafer.

According to example 1, there is provided a semiconductor inductor. The semiconductor inductor may include: a first sacrificial substrate having a thickness, a first surface and a transversely opposed second surface; a first stop layer deposited across at least a portion of the first surface of the first sacrificial substrate; a first coil having a first surface and a second surface deposited across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; a first dielectric layer having a thickness disposed at least partially across the first coil; and at least one first conductive structure conductively coupled to the first coil and extending through the first dielectric layer thickness and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil.

Example 2may include elements of example 1 where the stop layer may include silicon carbide.

Example 3 may include elements of example 1 where the at least one conductive structure may include at least one of: a solder ball, a solder bump, or a conductive solder paste.

Example 4 may include elements of example 1 where the at least one conductive structure may include a conductive pillar.

Example 5 may include elements of example 1 where the first coil may include a planar coil having a plurality of turns disposed on the first stop layer.

Example 6 may include elements of example 1, and the semiconductor inductor may additionally include: a second coil disposed proximate and conductively coupled to the first coil by one or more second conductive structures extending through the first stop layer after removal of at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate; where the second coil has a first surface disposed proximate a second dielectric layer and a second surface deposited across at least a portion of a second stop layer; and where the second conductive structures extend through the second dielectric layer.

Example 7 may include elements of example 6 where the second coil is spaced a distance from the first coil, forming an interstitial space between the first oil and the second coil.

Example 8 may include elements of example 7, and the semiconductor inductor may additionally include an underfill at least partially filling the interstitial space between the first coil and the second coil.

Example 9 may include elements of example 1, and the semiconductor inductor may additionally include a magnetic core material disposed proximate at least a portion of the first stop layer after removal of at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate.

Example 10 may include elements of any of examples 1 through 9 where the first sacrificial substrate comprises a silicon wafer.

According to example 11, there is provided a method of fabricating a first semiconductor inductor. The method may include: depositing a first stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate; forming a first coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; depositing a first dielectric layer having a thickness at least partially across the first coil; and conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil, the at least one first conductive structure extending through the thickness of the first dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil.

Example 12 may include elements of example 11, and the method may further include: removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate to expose at least a portion of the first stop layer.

Example 13 may include elements of example 11 where removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate to expose at least a portion of the first stop layer may include: removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate via spin etching to expose the portion of the first stop layer.

Example 14 may include elements of example 11, and the method may additionally include: depositing a magnetic core material across at least a portion of the exposed portion of the first stop layer.

Example 15 may include elements of example 11, and the method may additionally include: forming a second semiconductor inductor by: depositing a second stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a second sacrificial substrate; forming a second coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface across at least a portion of the second stop layer opposite the second sacrificial substrate; depositing a second dielectric layer having a thickness at least partially across the second coil; and conductively coupling at least one second conductive structure to the second planar coil, the at least one second conductive structure extending through the thickness of the second dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the second dielectric layer opposite the second coil; and conductively coupling the at least one second conductive structure to the first coil, the at least one second conductive structure extending through the first stop layer thickness.

Example 16 may include elements of example 15, and the method may additionally include: an underfill at least partially filling an interstitial space between the first coil and the second coil.

Example 17 may include elements of example 11 where depositing a first stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate may include: depositing a first stop layer that includes silicon carbide across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate.

Example 18 may include elements of example 11 where conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil may include: conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure that includes a solder ball to the first coil.

Example 19 may include elements of example 11 where conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil may include: conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure that includes a conductive pillar to the first planar coil.

Example 20 may include elements of example 11 where forming a first coil may include: forming a first coil that includes a plurality of turns.

Example 21 may include elements of example 11 where forming a first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate may include: patterning a first planar coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate.

Example 22 may include elements of any of examples 11 through 21 where forming a first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate may include: forming a first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite a first sacrificial silicon substrate.

According to example 23, there is provided a semiconductor package. The semiconductor package may include: a semiconductor die; a semiconductor inductor conductively coupled to the semiconductor die, the semiconductor inductor including: a first sacrificial substrate having a thickness, a first surface and a second surface; a first stop layer deposited across at least a portion of the first surface of the first sacrificial substrate; a first coil having a first surface and a second surface deposited across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; a first dielectric layer having a thickness disposed at least partially across the first coil; and at least one first conductive structure conductively coupled to the first coil and extending through the thickness of the first dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil, the at least one first conductive structure conductively coupled to the semiconductor die.

Example 24 may include elements of example 23, and the semiconductor package may additionally include: a mold compound disposed across at least a portion of the semiconductor die and at least partially about the semiconductor inductor.

Example 25 may include elements of example 23, and the semiconductor package may additionally include: a mold compound disposed across at least a portion of the semiconductor die and across at least a portion of the first stop layer of the semiconductor inductor after removal of at least a portion of the thickness of the first sacrificial substrate.

Example 26 may include elements of example 23 where the sacrificial substrate may include a silicon wafer.

Example 27 may include elements of example 23 where the stop layer may include silicon carbide.

Example 28 may include elements of example 23 where the at least one conductive structure may include a solder ball.

Example 29 may include elements of example 23 where the at least one conductive structure may include a conductive pillar.

Example 30 may include elements of example 23 where the first coil comprises a coil having a plurality of turns.

Example 31 may include elements of example 23, and the semiconductor package may additionally include: a second coil disposed proximate and conductively coupled to the first coil by one or more second conductive structures extending through the first stop layer after removal of at least a portion of the first sacrificial layer; where the second coil has a first surface disposed proximate a second dielectric layer and an opposed second surface deposited across at least a portion of a second stop layer; and where the second conductive structures extend through the second dielectric layer.

Example 32 may include elements of example 31 where the second coil is spaced a distance from the first coil, forming an interstitial space between the first coil and the second coil.

Example 33 may include elements of example 32, and the semiconductor package may additionally include: an underfill at least partially filling the interstitial space between the first coil and the second coil.

Example 34 may include elements of example 23, and the semiconductor inductor may additionally include: a magnetic core material disposed proximate at least a portion of the first stop layer after removal of at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate.

Example 35 may include elements of example 23, and the semiconductor inductor may additionally include: a mold compound disposed across at least a portion of the semiconductor die and at least partially about the semiconductor inductor.

Example 36 may include elements or example 23, and the semiconductor inductor may additionally include: an etch-resist compound disposed across at least a portion of the semiconductor die and about at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate.

Example 37 may include elements of example 36, and the semiconductor inductor may additionally include: a magnetic core material disposed proximate at least a portion of the first stop layer after removal of at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate.

According to example 38, there is provided a method of fabricating a first semiconductor package. The method may include: the method comprising: forming a semiconductor inductor by: depositing a first stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate having a first thickness; forming a first coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate; depositing a first dielectric layer having a thickness at least partially across the first coil; and conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil, the at least one first conductive structure extending through the thickness of the first dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil; and conductively coupling the semiconductor inductor to a semiconductor die using the at least one conductive structure.

Example 39 may include elements of example 38, and the method may additionally include: disposing a mold compound across at least a portion of the semiconductor die and at least partially about the semiconductor inductor.

Example 40 may include elements of example 39, and the method may additionally include: removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate to expose at least a portion of the first stop layer.

Example 41 may include elements of example 40, and the method may additionally include: depositing a magnetic core material across at least a portion of the exposed portion of the first stop layer.

Example 42 may include elements of example 40 where removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate to expose at least a portion of the first stop layer may include: removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate via spin etching to expose the portion of the first stop layer.

Example 43 may include elements of example 38, and the method may additionally include: disposing a mold compound disposed across at least a portion of the semiconductor die and across at least a portion of the first semiconductor inductor stop layer after removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate to expose at least a portion of the first stop layer.

Example 44 may include elements of example 38, and the method may additionally include: forming a second semiconductor inductor by: depositing a second stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a second sacrificial substrate; forming a second coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface across at least a portion of the second stop layer opposite the second sacrificial substrate; depositing a second dielectric layer having a thickness at least partially across the second coil; and conductively coupling at least one second conductive structure to the second planar coil, the at least one second conductive structure extending through the thickness of the second dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the second dielectric layer opposite the second coil; and conductively coupling the at least one second conductive structure to the first coil, the at least one second conductive structure extending through the first stop layer thickness.

Example 45 may include elements of example 44, and the method may additionally include: at least partially filling an interstitial space between the first coil and the second coil using an underfill.

Example 46 may include elements of example 38 where depositing a first stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate may include: depositing a first stop layer that includes silicon carbide across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate.

Example 47 may include elements of example 38 where conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil may include: conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure that includes a solder ball to the first coil.

Example 48 may include elements of example 38 where conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil may include: conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure that includes a conductive pillar to the first coil.

Example 49 may include elements of example 38 where forming a first coil comprises: forming a first planar coil that includes a plurality of turns.

Example 50 may include elements of example 38 where forming a first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate comprises: patterning a first planar coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate.

Example 51 may include elements of any of examples 38 through 50 where forming a first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate comprises: forming a first planar coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite a first sacrificial silicon substrate.

The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described (or portions thereof), and it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the claims are intended to cover all such equivalents.

Claims (25)

What is claimed:

1. A semiconductor inductor, comprising:

a first sacrificial substrate having a thickness, a first surface and a transversely opposed second surface;

a first stop layer across at least a portion of the first surface of the first sacrificial substrate;

a first coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface, the first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate;

a first dielectric layer having a thickness disposed at least partially across the first coil, wherein the first dielectric layer is directly on and in contact with the first stop layer; and

at least one first conductive structure conductively coupled to the first coil and extending through the first dielectric layer thickness and projecting at least partially from a surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil.

2. The semiconductor inductor of

claim 1

wherein the first stop layer comprises silicon carbide.

3. The semiconductor inductor of

claim 1

wherein the at least one conductive structure comprises at least one of: a solder ball, a solder bump, or a solder paste.

4. The semiconductor inductor of

claim 1

wherein the at least one conductive structure comprises a conductive pillar.

5. The semiconductor inductor of

claim 1

wherein the first coil comprises a planar coil having a plurality of turns.

6. The semiconductor inductor of

claim 1

, further comprising:

a second coil disposed proximate and conductively coupled to the first coil by one or more second conductive structures extending through the first stop layer after removal of at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate;

wherein the second coil has a first surface disposed proximate a second dielectric layer and an opposed second surface deposited across at least a portion of a second stop layer; and

wherein the second conductive structures extend through the second dielectric layer.

7. The semiconductor inductor of

claim 6

wherein the second coil comprises a planar coil spaced a distance from the first coil, forming an interstitial space between the first coil and the second coil.

8. The semiconductor inductor of

claim 7

, further comprising:

an underfill at least partially filling the interstitial space between the first coil and the second coil.

9. The semiconductor inductor of

claim 1

, further comprising:

a magnetic core material disposed proximate at least a portion of the first stop layer after removal of at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate.

10. The semiconductor inductor

claim 1

wherein the first sacrificial substrate comprises a silicon wafer.

11. A method of fabricating a first semiconductor inductor, the method comprising:

depositing a first stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate;

forming a first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate, the first coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface;

depositing a first dielectric layer having a thickness at least partially across the first coil, wherein the first dielectric layer is directly on and in contact with the first stop layer; and

conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil, the at least one first conductive structure extending through the thickness of the first dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from a surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil.

12. The method of

claim 11

, further comprising:

removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate to expose at least a portion of the first stop layer.

13. The method of

claim 11

wherein removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate to expose at least a portion of the first stop layer comprises:

removing at least a portion of the first sacrificial substrate via spin etching to expose the portion of the first stop layer.

14. The method of

claim 11

, further comprising:

depositing a magnetic core material across at least a portion of the exposed portion of the first stop layer.

15. The method of

claim 11

, further comprising:

forming a second semiconductor inductor by:

depositing a second stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a second sacrificial substrate;

forming a second coil across at least a portion of the second stop layer opposite the second sacrificial substrate, the second coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface;

depositing a second dielectric layer having a thickness at least partially across the second coil; and

conductively coupling at least one second conductive structure to the second coil, the at least one second conductive structure extending through the thickness of the second dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from the surface of the second dielectric layer opposite the second coil; and

conductively coupling the at least one second conductive structure to the first coil, the at least one second conductive structure extending through the first stop layer thickness.

16. The method of

claim 15

, further comprising:

filling, at least partially, an interstitial space formed between the first coil and the planar coil with an underfill.

17. The method of

claim 11

wherein depositing a first stop layer across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate comprises:

depositing a first stop layer that includes silicon carbide across at least a portion of a first surface of a first sacrificial substrate.

18. The method of

claim 11

wherein conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil comprises:

conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure that includes a solder ball to the first coil.

19. The method of

claim 11

wherein conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure to the first coil comprises:

conductively coupling at least one first conductive structure that includes a conductive pillar to the first coil.

20. The method of

claim 11

wherein forming a first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate comprises:

forming a first planar coil that includes a plurality of turns across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate.

21. The method of

claim 11

wherein forming a first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate comprises:

patterning first planar coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate.

22. The method of

claim 11

wherein forming a first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite the first sacrificial substrate comprises:

forming a first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer opposite a first sacrificial silicon substrate, the sacrificial silicon substrate comprising a silicon wafer.

23. A semiconductor package, comprising:

a semiconductor die;

a semiconductor inductor conductively coupled to the semiconductor die, the semiconductor inductor including:

a first stop layer;

a first coil having a first surface and an opposed second surface, the first coil across at least a portion of the first stop layer;

a first dielectric layer having a thickness disposed at least partially across the first coil, wherein the first dielectric layer is directly on and in contact with the first stop layer; and

at least one first conductive structure conductively coupled to the first coil and extending through the thickness of the first dielectric layer and projecting at least partially from a surface of the first dielectric layer opposite the first coil, the at least one first conductive structure conductively coupled to the semiconductor die.

24. The semiconductor package of

claim 23

, further comprising:

a mold compound disposed across at least a portion of the semiconductor die and at least partially about the semiconductor inductor.

25. The semiconductor package of

claim 23

, further comprising:

a mold compound disposed across at least a portion of the semiconductor die and across at least a portion of the first stop layer of the semiconductor inductor after removal of at least a portion of the thickness of the first sacrificial substrate.

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